Author Archives: Thandar

Ch 159: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Chen Jiaxi was indeed incredibly capable. Not only did she successfully maneuver her husband and Qu Weiwei into deputy positions, but she also played the part of someone deeply dissatisfied, publicly complaining that Qu Weiwei had taken away her husband’s authority. She made a great show of distancing herself from Shen Qing’s team and acting as though she resented Qu Weiwei for dividing power.

Yet, despite how good the position seemed, Qu Weiwei wasn’t particularly eager to take it.

Reuniting with her former colleagues from the Third Farm made her more aware than ever of how much Shen Qing had helped her. To expose the hidden corruption, she had spent considerable effort tracking down a few of her injured coworkers. But far more of them had disappeared without a sound, their non-ability-user family members likely gone as well. The ones who had survived mostly had other ability users in their families who had managed to protect them.

Even so, seeing those who had lost limbs was a deeply jarring experience for Qu Weiwei.

“The boss has done so much for me, and now I’m supposed to just walk away for a better job? What kind of person would that make me…? No, I’m not going. I’ll stay in our squad and work myself to the bone for you.” Qu Weiwei made up her mind, clinging to Shen Qing and whining.

She and Tang Wenjie had become a well-coordinated team in combat. And now that the military had started building farms outside the base, the iron cage tactic relied heavily on wood-ability users to weave the final layer of vine barriers for extracting crystal cores. As a result, the value of wood-ability users in the base had skyrocketed. In Shen Qing’s team, two of the wood-ability users recruited from the outer city had already declared their intention to leave, hoping to find better opportunities with the military’s farms.

Shen Qing and the others completely understood and let them go without hesitation. But Qu Weiwei knew that if she left, finding another wood-ability user to team up with Tang Wenjie wouldn’t be easy. “Didn’t we talk about going to the wholesale market in Lan Province and the textile market near Red City? How are you all going to manage without me?”

Shen Qing, on the other hand, had personally experienced the benefits of having powerful allies after becoming friends with Lin Ning. Though he had originally befriended Lin Ning simply to experience genuine friendship, Lin Ning’s status had brought him far more security than the county registrar and Clerk Yang ever had. And having his own people in military leadership was far better than relying on outsiders. So he actually supported Qu Weiwei taking the military position.

Besides, “The military is renting out those ready-made iron cages on wheels now, aren’t they? That means Xiao Tang won’t have to manually form and control them anymore. We can just build our own version, and instead of vine barriers, Xiao Tang can use his metal ability to create solid metal walls.”

“Actually, we wouldn’t even need universal wheels,” Shen Qing added, struck by inspiration from the military’s design. “We can just weld the cage directly onto a vehicle. That way, no one has to push it—it moves with the car. Wouldn’t that be even more convenient?”

With Tang Wenjie’s metal ability, they could create even more intricate structures. And since they had storage space, they could keep these oddly shaped, impractical vehicles tucked away until needed—something other squads couldn’t do.

“Besides,” Shen Qing continued after some thought, “if you take this job, I have a feeling the military will find an excuse to recruit Xiao Tang soon, too.”

Chen Jiaxi was incredibly skilled, but the position at the Third Farm that was being offered to Qu Weiwei wasn’t low-ranking at all. Her husband was one thing—he had been a top professional even before the apocalypse and had served as a small leader on the city walls after it began, proving his management ability. But Qu Weiwei? She was an inexperienced university student being parachuted into a high-level role. If it were just a compensation package for victims, even with Chen Jiaxi pulling strings, it would be unlikely for her to get such a significant position.

Shen Qing suspected that the military had already taken an interest in Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei’s abilities. Their powers weren’t typical metal and wood abilities—they were rare and highly useful. The military had already attempted to “borrow” them multiple times, but that wasn’t enough. They wanted to poach them entirely.

But Shen Qing was happy to let them be “poached.” What ally gained later in life could be more reliable than having your own people rise into power?

“If that happens,” Shen Qing teased, “and you’re working on the inside while we’re on the outside, do we even need to bother with missions anymore? We’ll basically have free rein at the base.”

With Shen Qing putting it that way, Qu Weiwei finally, albeit reluctantly, agreed. She truly didn’t want to leave her familiar and comfortable squad to start over in a new environment. And she had no desire to change jobs either—where else would she find a team as comfortable and well-paid as Shen Qing’s? But if it meant becoming a stronger ally for Shen Qing, she was willing to push herself and take on the challenge.

“Fine… But even if I take the job, I’m still living in our villa. I’m still part of our squad, and you’re not allowed to kick me out! QAQ”

“We wouldn’t do that,” Shen Qing reassured her. “You’ll always be part of our squad. This is your home. We’re family.”

Qu Weiwei was so touched she nearly burst into tears. Finally, she agreed to the military’s offer, but she pushed back her reporting date as far as possible. In the meantime, she went on another mission with Shen Qing’s team—a sort of farewell trip before her job transfer.

Since long-distance missions were out of the question, they settled on Red City’s local textile market. They kept the group small—only four of them. By now, both Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie had advanced to mid-to-high levels in their abilities, so they felt confident enough to handle the mission themselves.

Rainbow City’s textile market was the largest fabric wholesale hub in the province. The first floor and surrounding shops mostly sold curtains, with a few vendors offering fabric scraps. The upper floors housed full bolts of fabric—everything from suit wool and cotton to silk, chiffon, and brocade. The selection was vast.

Shen Qing had been eyeing this market for a long time. In ancient times, fabric was as good as currency. But modern textiles were vastly different from those of the past. The rough linen and hemp clothes worn by commoners in the past were uncomfortable, stiff, and scratchy. Wealthier families could afford finer cotton undergarments, but those without the means simply endured the discomfort until their clothing softened with wear.

Silk and brocade in ancient times also paled in comparison to modern textiles. Weaving, dyeing, and printing techniques had been far less advanced, so silk would fray after just a few washes, and colors would fade easily. Wealthy families often discarded garments after wearing them only a handful of times.

By contrast, modern silk and brocade were incomparably superior in durability and vibrancy. They could even be tossed into a washing machine without falling apart—at worst, a few strands might snag, but handwashing would keep them pristine for years. Shen Qing wanted to stock up on fabrics to store in his space. Whether for his own use or as gifts, they would be invaluable in the future.

To reassure Qu Weiwei, they welded an iron cage onto a jeep for this mission. The frame was welded from the base of the car, with the windows set a meter away from the cage’s edges. This way, they could attack from inside the vehicle, using abilities or crossbows to take down zombies without stepping out.

Once the zombies were eliminated, Tang Wenjie could use his metal ability to enclose the bodies in a metal wall, creating a safe area for them to exit and extract crystal cores.

“This part should work with earth-ability users, too,” Shen Qing mused. “They could just build an earthen wall instead of using metal—it would serve the same purpose.”

Qu Weiwei rubbed her nose. “Looks like I’m really not that necessary anymore.” But at the same time, she felt reassured that the squad would manage just fine even after she left.

Perhaps, she thought, no one in this world was truly irreplaceable. There was no such thing as a banquet that never ended.

The trip started off relatively smoothly. Shen Qing’s team adhered to their usual cautious strategy, preferring to take more time to ensure everyone’s safety. However, they hadn’t expected to encounter a mutated zombie on the top floor—one that appeared to have wind-type abilities, capable of long-range attacks.

Their iron cage could not completely block such an attack. Caught off guard, Shen Qing’s arm was slashed by a wind blade, leaving a ten-centimeter-long gash. Fortunately, it wasn’t too deep.

Luckily, their team was large, their abilities were strong, and they had plenty of weapons. The regular zombies on this floor had already been cleared, leaving only the mutated one. With a barrage of abilities and bullets, they soon turned the creature into a sieve.

Song Kaiji, pale with fright, held onto Shen Qing’s arm. “How could this happen? Why would the zombie target you?”

“?” Qu Weiwei looked confused. “Do zombies even choose their targets? Don’t they attack randomly?”

Song Kaiji pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Shen Qing understood what he meant and reassured him, “It was probably just my positioning. The zombie randomly flung a wind blade at us, and I was just unlucky enough to be in its path.” He recalled the scene—Qu Weiwei had originally been standing in front of him. When they realized the zombie had long-range attacks, she had stepped forward and quickly wove a vine wall to block it. That left him exposed. Most of the wind blades had been intercepted by the vines, and only a small portion slipped through, causing his shallow wound.

He was fairly certain the zombie had originally aimed at Qu Weiwei. But since she had moved, and he happened to be right behind her, he had taken the hit instead. “It was just a coincidence.”

“Enough talking, hurry up and bandage him.” Qu Weiwei urged, “Blood attracts zombies the most.”

The last time they had encountered a metal-type zombie, there had been a nearby mutated plant that worked in tandem with it. Qu Weiwei worried that something similar might be lurking around now, drawn by Shen Qing’s blood. She carefully scouted the area for a long time before confirming there were no abnormalities and proceeded to extract the crystal core from the mutated zombie.

The core was noticeably larger than the metal-type core she had absorbed before. Its color was transparent. Qu Weiwei wiped off the bloodstains and examined it under the light. “Is this a wind-type core?”

Before she could finish speaking, a gust of wind suddenly swept toward her. Instinctively, she lashed out with vines to shield herself and rolled across the ground, ending up near Song Kaiji. She tossed the crystal core to him. “Take it!”

Song Kaiji immediately secured it, while the rest of the team raised their defenses and warily turned their eyes to where Qu Weiwei had been standing.

A missed strike. Failing to snatch the crystal core, a parrot—about the size of a rooster—screamed furiously, “Give it to me! Give it to me!”

A talking, mutated animal. The sight was more than a little eerie.

“It’s surprisingly intelligent,” Tang Wenjie noted. “Despite Boss bleeding, it didn’t prioritize attacking him. Instead, it went straight for the crystal core in Weiwei’s hand.” He paused. “Could it be that every mutated zombie has some kind of accompanying creature? But it didn’t come out to help the zombie while we were fighting.”

Unlike the plant they had encountered last time. Did that mean companion creatures didn’t necessarily cooperate with zombies? Could it be that they, too, coveted the crystal cores inside the mutated zombies? If mutated plants and animals were developing intelligence while zombies were evolving long-range attacks, then humanity was in deep trouble.

Seeing that the core had disappeared into Song Kaiji’s hands, the parrot’s eyes turned blood-red. It shrieked in rage and dove at them. “Give it to me! Die!”

A flash of inspiration struck Shen Qing. He swiftly pulled a jug of oil from his storage space and doused the parrot with it. Then, he grabbed a blowtorch—the kind used for caramelizing crème brûlée—and blasted the bird with a jet of flame.

Instantly, the parrot was engulfed in fire, turning into a massive fireball.

Tang Wenjie quickly conjured a metal net to trap the bird. It slammed into the bars and fell straight to the ground, screeching as it burned. The whole area was soon filled with the unmistakable scent of roasted chicken.

This was different from a fire-ability attack. Since the parrot had been soaked in oil, every feather was saturated, ensuring the flames couldn’t be extinguished even if it rolled or flapped its wings.

The others: “……”

Unbelievable.

Who would have thought of that?!

Their boss really had an unparalleled talent for hunting! Tang Wenjie even suggested, “We should equip the fire-ability users in the outer city squads with small oil bottles. It’d be incredibly useful against mutated animals or hostile survivors.”

Meanwhile, Qu Weiwei was focused on something else. She sniffed the air, eyes shining. “It smells amazing. Can we eat it?”

Generally, mutated animals were inedible, but with all that oil, this one smelled especially delicious!

Once the flames finally died down, Qu Weiwei eagerly volunteered to dig out the crystal core and even snuck a small bite.

Ugh—

Utter disappointment.

The crystal core from the parrot’s brain was about the same size as an ordinary zombie core. However, its color had a tinge of red mixed into green, closely resembling the color of its feathers.

“What type is this?” The group huddled together, examining the two cores. This time, Qu Weiwei opted out of absorbing a core—she had already absorbed one from a mutated zombie before and had fully transformed into a mutated wood-type ability user. She figured she had no room for further evolution. Instead, Tang Wenjie and Song Kaiji could give it a try—especially Song Kaiji, who had been stuck at his current level for a long time. It was about time he advanced.

However, Qu Weiwei added, “I suggest you guys get into the right state before trying.”

She had a hunch. When she absorbed her core last time, she had been in an extreme state of exhaustion. Whether it was due to her weakened condition or something else, she had felt a looming sense of zombification, surviving only through sheer willpower. Maybe if she had been in better shape, the risk wouldn’t have been as high.

Hearing her words, Song Kaiji and Tang Wenjie became even more cautious. They had been fighting the entire morning and were already quite fatigued. So, after sealing off the top floor’s passage and carefully inspecting their surroundings, they sat down to eat and rest.

Eventually, they decided that Tang Wenjie would absorb the parrot’s crystal core, while Song Kaiji would take in the mutated zombie’s core. To be safe, they would absorb them one at a time so the other could assist if anything went wrong.

Thinking about this, Tang Wenjie looked down at the crystal core in his palm.

If only Qi Zhan were here. If something went wrong, Qi Zhan could help him regulate the energy.

But Tang Wenjie quickly shook his head with a smile. He hadn’t been in contact with Qi Zhan for a long time now. And even if they were still on speaking terms, without any benefit involved, why would Qi Zhan accompany him on a mission?

That person, huh…

He glanced at the crystal core again and finally said, “I’ll wait until we get back to the base to absorb it.”

The others were curious but didn’t press him. Maybe Tang Wenjie was just extra cautious?

Song Kaiji, after fully adjusting his state, proceeded to absorb the crystal core. As expected, his process was much smoother than Qu Weiwei’s—he didn’t feel any zombification at all. The absorption went seamlessly, and his ability directly leveled up.

When he opened his eyes, a faint blue gleam flashed across them. With a casual flick of his wrist, he released a blade of energy, slicing through the metal cage that Tang Wenjie had just crafted.

Tang Wenjie: “…Couldn’t you have aimed at something else?”

It seemed that the zombie had truly been wind-type. The blade Song Kaiji conjured had properties resembling both a spatial blade and a wind blade—some sort of hybrid ability. It appeared to be more powerful than a standard spatial or wind blade.

After testing it out a few more times, Song Kaiji joked, “Why don’t we call it the Wind Rift Blade?”

“Sounds like you’re living a pretty comfortable life,” Qu Weiwei quipped.

Then, a sudden idea flashed in Song Kaiji’s mind. He turned and scooped up Shen Qing. In the next instant, the two of them reappeared ten meters away.

“It worked!” Song Kaiji was more thrilled about this than his long-range attack—he could finally teleport with another person. That meant the next time they encountered a real danger—especially in a fight against humans—he could grab his teammates and escape.

A coward’s delight.

Although there had been some risks, the mission was ultimately a great success. However, on their way back, they unexpectedly encountered another mutated zombie.

This one also had long-range abilities—clearly fire-type—but it was noticeably weaker than the one they had fought at the textile market. They searched for a long time but didn’t find any accompanying mutated animals or plants.

Shen Qing and the others speculated that perhaps once a zombie mutated, it attracted nearby mutated plants or animals—either as competitors for the crystal core or as potential allies. This particular zombie, however, seemed to have only recently evolved into a mutant, meaning no creatures had discovered it yet.

However, encountering two mutated zombies in a single mission was far from good news. The team felt a heavy sense of unease. The base had finally developed the iron cage system to protect most zombie hunters, but if zombies started evolving long-range attacks on a large scale, this strategy would become obsolete. Even behind the cage, ability users could still be hit, and the casualty rate would inevitably rise again.

They reported their findings to Shao Nan. The military had actually noticed similar trends, but what could they do? Biological evolution—or in this case, zombie evolution—was inevitable. Just as humanity had been powerless when the initial outbreak occurred, they were equally powerless to stop zombies from evolving. The only solution was to strengthen defenses and warn weaker ability squads not to overestimate themselves by venturing too far.

Qu Weiwei kept delaying and delaying, but eventually, the day came when she had no choice but to report to the Third Farm. Returning to the farm, even though her position had changed, her mood had not improved. Seeing the same mid-level staff who had once oppressed her now grinning at her ingratiatingly brought her no joy.

She really hoped Shen Qing’s prediction was correct—that the military only saw the Third Farm as a stepping stone and would eventually promote her elsewhere. She had no desire to stay in this place filled with bad memories!

Upon arrival, someone led her to her office. Her new accommodations were quite luxurious—her office was at least fifty square meters, spacious and well-lit, furnished with classic mahogany desks, chairs, a sofa, and even a full tea set. Clearly, some high-ranking official had been removed, and she had inherited their office.

Behind the main office was a small private room with a bed and a bathroom for resting.

“Deputy Director Qu, the director is out inspecting the farm. Deputy Director Wang’s office is right next door. He and his wife are both in at the moment—would you like to go over and introduce yourself?” The staff member leading her offered a polite suggestion. It was either a reminder or a subtle attempt to put her in her place, making her seem subordinate to Deputy Director Wang as soon as she stepped foot in the farm.

A freshly graduated university student might not understand the workplace politics at play, but Qu Weiwei had a simple solution—violence. Since Wang’s deputy position belonged to Chen Jiaxi’s husband, and since Chen Jiaxi was playing the part of a distant acquaintance, Qu Weiwei decided to go along with it. She snorted coldly. “Why should I go greet him? The director is one thing—I’ll report to him when he’s back.”

She wasn’t entirely sure what benefit there was in pretending to be unfamiliar with Chen Jiaxi, but Chen Jiaxi was smarter than her, so she figured it was best to follow her lead.

The staff member immediately backpedaled, smiling awkwardly. “You’re right. Perhaps it would be best for the director to make the introductions when he returns.”

Qu Weiwei gave a dismissive nod and sat at her desk, pretending to examine the documents piled on it. In reality, she couldn’t understand most of them.

Help! I only know how to make plants grow, fight, and weave vines! Why am I being put in charge of management?!

Her head ached. Now that Song Kaiji could teleport with others, could she ask him to sneak her to Chen Jiaxi’s place at night so Jiaxi could teach her what to do?

However, before she had the chance to seek out Wang’s office, someone from next door came looking for her first.

Outside the door stood not only Chen Jiaxi and her husband but also a stranger. Since there was an outsider present, Qu Weiwei did her part and acted like she and Chen Jiaxi weren’t familiar at all, regarding them with suspicion and wariness. “What do you want?”

The unfamiliar man flashed a warm smile and strode into her office as if he owned the place. “So this is Deputy Director Qu? Truly impressive—young and capable. I’ve heard the military holds you in high regard. I hope to rely on you in the future.”

Qu Weiwei glanced at Chen Jiaxi out of the corner of her eye but noticed that Chen Jiaxi didn’t even dare to raise an eyebrow. The only thing she did was subtly signal her wariness toward the man.

Hopefully, Qu Weiwei wasn’t misinterpreting it.

Still, Chen Jiaxi’s reaction was odd. Qu Weiwei became even more alert, deciding to be extra cautious around this man. She no longer looked at Chen Jiaxi and focused entirely on him.

The stranger casually strolled around her office as if inspecting the place, eventually stopping by the window. Looking outside, he watched as a few distant figures slowly disappeared from view, moving further away from the farm.

They were Shen Qing’s squad, who had escorted her here with the same reluctant energy as parents sending their child off to kindergarten.

“Deputy Director Qu has a great relationship with her former teammates. I hear it was thanks to them that you became the only wood-ability user to fully recover from the mutant willow outbreak, without any lasting injuries.”

On the surface, he was chatting about Qu Weiwei’s past, but in reality, he was fishing for information about Shen Qing’s squad.

Shen Qing had secrets. Qu Weiwei didn’t know what they were, but she clearly remembered the day he took her in, warning that anyone in his team had to keep their mouths shut. She had kept that in mind ever since.

Frowning, she immediately put on a temperamental act. She didn’t know who this man was, but she instinctively disliked him. “Hey, who the hell are you? Did I invite you in? You just waltz in here, rambling on and on like it’s your place. Do you have any manners?”

Despite being scolded, the man’s expression didn’t change. Instead, he smiled apologetically and extended his hand in greeting. “My apologies for being so abrupt. Let me introduce myself—I’m Feng Hao, a biomedical engineer from the research institute’s vaccine research department.”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Thandar: Oh no, did they get any info that Shen Qing is prone to zombies? This isn’t good.

Ch 158: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Tieshan handled the final cleanup, throwing out every last item in the shop, leaving not even a piece of furniture behind. Then, grabbing a few of the troublemakers by their collars, he tossed them out one by one. In the end, only Miao Qiuduo and her husband remained, each held by one of Tieshan’s powerful hands and dragged before Shen Qing.

“Qing Ge’er, what should we do with these two?” Tieshan asked, hesitating. This was Qing Ge’er’s aunt, after all—he didn’t dare make the call himself.

So he calls him Qing Ge’er. Lin Ning took note of this quietly from the side.

Miao Qiuduo was completely terrified. This was the first time she had truly witnessed Shen Qing taking action. How could he be so fierce, so ruthless? How did he have so many people under him? She was shaking uncontrollably, as if caught in a violent storm. Huang Wulang, though frightened himself, still had some backbone and shielded her in his arms. Pressing his palms together in a plea, he begged, “Qing Ge’er, we were wrong! Please, for the sake of family, for the sake of your mother’s sister—”

It was precisely because she was his aunt that Shen Qing was even more furious! The pawnshop workers scheming against him was one thing—he had no expectations from them, and there was no hesitation in punishing strangers. But Miao Qiuduo? A blood relative? That was what truly enraged him. And yet, because of that bond, he had to hold back to some extent.

If Miao Qiuduo hadn’t been so arrogant and impatient, if she had been willing to return to Shiqu Village, show proper filial piety to Old Lady Miao, and mend relationships with her siblings, then after a year or so, even if Shen Qing would never agree to marry Huang Jinbao, what would it have mattered if she had managed to take advantage of him for some money? The villagers had all taken their share of benefits—what difference would it have made if the couple had as well?

But no. They had treated everyone else like fools, thinking only their family was smart. They were in such a rush, acting like bandits, demanding money the moment they arrived!

Shen Qing stared at Miao Qiuduo and Huang Wulang with an unreadable expression for a long while before he finally spoke. “You’re right—we are family. What could I possibly do to my aunt and uncle? However—”

Huang Wulang had just begun to relax when Shen Qing continued, “Speaking of family ties, my aunt hasn’t set foot in Shiqu Village for ten years. In all these years, she has not once shown filial respect to my grandmother—not even a small gift for the holidays. And this time, I hear she came back empty-handed as well? My grandmother didn’t even receive so much as a piece of cake or a single spool of thread from her.”

Huang Wulang’s face turned red with embarrassment. It was true, but hearing it said aloud was utterly humiliating. Forcing a smile, he stammered, “We… we were always in the prefectural city. It was inconvenient to return, and we’ve wronged the old lady. That was our fault. We’ll make it up to her in the future, I swear. Every festival, we’ll send proper gifts.”

“No need to wait. Make up for it today.” Shen Qing reached out and lightly brushed his fingers under Miao Qiuduo’s ear. She was wearing a pair of red jade earrings—delicate and finely crafted, worth at least two to three hundred wen.

“Aunt and Uncle seem to be living well. Surely you wouldn’t withhold festival gifts from an elder, would you?”

Miao Qiuduo trembled even more violently. The moment Shen Qing’s fingers swept past her ear, it felt like time stretched infinitely. She was terrified that if his fingers turned slightly, they would wrap around her throat instead. She gripped her husband’s clothes even tighter in fear.

Huang Wulang, of course, didn’t want to hand over anything. He and Miao Qiuduo were both selfish to the core. If they were willing to give, they wouldn’t have neglected it for the past ten years. To Miao Qiuduo, her maternal family existed solely to be squeezed dry for the benefit of her own household. Being forced to give something back now felt worse than having their lives taken.

But Shen Qing stood calmly before them, with Tieshan looming like a predator behind him, and a circle of young men gripping wooden sticks nearby. If they refused to hand over the money, they might really lose half their lives here!

Gritting his teeth, Huang Wulang reluctantly said, “Fine, fine… I’ll make it up to the old lady later…”

Shen Qing gave a slight nod, and immediately, one of his men stepped forward and began searching Huang Wulang’s body. Ruyi also moved in to frisk Miao Qiuduo, removing her earrings and the silver bracelet from her wrist. Shen Qing, watching the scene unfold leisurely, added, “You’ve been living comfortably in the prefectural city. If we count all the missed holiday gifts—New Year’s, the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn, the Laba Festival… altogether, let’s say one tael of silver per year. That’s not unreasonable, is it?”

Unreasonable?! Huang Wulang wailed internally. How much did married daughters usually send home? In the village, some only gave a single pound of pork—just a few dozen wen! Even before they moved to the city, they had only sent two pounds of pork and a small piece of fabric, which never cost more than a hundred wen a year. Now Shen Qing was demanding an entire tael of silver per year?!

But he didn’t dare protest. He could only watch as the young man rummaged through his belongings and took his money pouch.

Ruyi picked up a tray from the ground, placing the silver and jewelry they had taken from the couple on it for Shen Qing to inspect. Huang Wulang’s pouch contained a small piece of broken silver and a string of copper coins, totaling about one and a half taels. Miao Qiuduo’s earrings weren’t worth much, but her silver bracelet weighed about two taels.

Shen Qing weighed the silver in his hand and smiled. “Let’s round it up to five taels, then. There’s still five more to go—would Uncle like to fetch it in cash, or should we write an IOU?”

Huang Wulang would never willingly part with more money. Forcing a smile, he replied, “We… we’ve fallen on hard times. That’s why we returned to the village to seek a livelihood. I’m afraid we can’t scrape together another five taels just yet. I’ll write an IOU! Yes, an IOU!”

Shen Qing nodded and motioned for Gold-Tooth to draft the note. Gold-Tooth, ever tactful, didn’t list Shen Qing as the creditor but instead wrote that Huang Wulang and Miao Qiuduo owed Old Lady Miao ten years’ worth of festival gifts, totaling ten taels of silver. Five had already been repaid, leaving five still outstanding. Even if this note was taken to the authorities, it would seem perfectly reasonable—after all, it was true that they hadn’t sent a single festival gift in ten years.

“That’s in the past now. If Aunt and Uncle ever come to Shiqu Village again, don’t forget to bring proper festival gifts,” Shen Qing dusted off his clothes. “Aunt didn’t leave home empty-handed when she got married—she took a generous dowry from her natal family. Yet after that, she never visited. No matter where you go, that doesn’t make sense. Also, you don’t need to trouble yourselves over my marriage. Whether Huang Jinbao is after my money or truly likes me—it doesn’t matter. Just because a man sincerely likes me doesn’t mean I should be eternally grateful and immediately marry him, bringing my wealth along. My wishes, my preferences are what matter most. If I don’t like him, even if your son were the king of heaven himself and laid his heart bare before me, I still wouldn’t like him.”

Hearing this, Lin Ning, who had experienced similar frustrations, felt his eyes brighten. Yes! Exactly! Why should he have to marry just because some man took a liking to him? His own wishes were what mattered most! It was the first time he had heard such a concept, and it struck him like a revelation.

At this point, how could Huang Wulang and Miao Qiuduo dare to scheme against Shen Qing any longer? Marrying such a living king of hell into their family—did they want to live or not? They frantically nodded in agreement. Gold-Tooth grabbed their hands, and without bothering with ink paste, simply cut their thumbs so they could press bloody fingerprints onto the IOU.

Clutching their bleeding thumbs, the couple whimpered as Tieshan tossed them out. They cast a resentful glance back at the shop but quickly lowered their heads and supported each other as they hurried away before Shen Qing could notice. But they had no intention of paying back the money. Returning to Shiqu Village? Bringing festival gifts? From now on, they wouldn’t even step foot in Anping County again! They refused to believe Shen Qing would chase them all the way to the prefectural city for just five taels of silver.

Gold-Tooth thought the same. He suggested that Shen Qing should have forced them to pay up immediately, as they surely had more silver on them. But Shen Qing only shook his head. He didn’t care about such a small sum of money. The whole point of the IOU was to serve as leverage—to ensure that Miao Qiuduo and her husband never dared to return. Like a loathsome toad squatting on one’s foot—not biting, but disgustingly persistent.

He could beat and expel the people from the pawnshop, but if he really hurt Miao Qiuduo, Old Lady Miao would inevitably feel unsettled. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it—he just didn’t want her to become a lingering source of tension. Making sure Miao Qiuduo herself chose never to return to Shiqu Village or Anping County was the best outcome.

Weighing the silver in his hand, Shen Qing thought, Five taels should be enough to make them feel the sting.

With the matter settled, Shen Qing surveyed the now-empty shop. The interior decor was still intact. He had originally planned to open a Cuihua Shop himself—now, he had a ready-made location. He instructed Ruyi to clean the place up and prepare it for their own business.

Lin Ning hovered around awkwardly behind him. Once Shen Qing was no longer busy, he finally mustered the courage to ask, “Can I invite you to dinner? Since we… we’re going to be friends, we should spend more time together. I—I want to share some of the best food in the city with you.”

Shen Qing, new to friendship, wasn’t quite sure how to navigate it. So whatever Lin Ning suggested, he agreed to, albeit a bit clumsily. But as they spent more time together, they gradually grew familiar, and their bond deepened. Shen Qing could distinctly tell that his relationship with Lin Ning was different from his connections with Lian Ou and Lian Rong, and also from his dynamic with Song Kaiji. It was somewhat similar to how he interacted with Qu Weiwei, but closer—more open.

So this is what friendship feels like.

After that day, Shen Qing no longer hid his pregnancy mark when walking through town. The revelation of his identity sent ripples through Anping County.

For people like Ruyi and Mudan, the shock quickly faded. Shen Qing was their master—whether he was a man, a ger, or a woman, he was still the one who held their contracts. So after the initial surprise, they simply accepted it.

Lin Ning also took the news well—so well, in fact, that he seemed happy about it. He eagerly dragged Shen Qing all around town, no longer worrying about appearances. Lin Zao, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded. But since Lin Ning was fine with it, he had no choice but to go along.

Gold-Tooth, meanwhile, was immensely relieved that in those crucial two seconds of hesitation, he had instinctively chosen to stand by Shen Qing’s side! Shen Qing being a ger unsettled him a little—after all, they had recently shared drinks, and he had drunkenly called him “brother” a few times. But in the end, so what? This was a ger with money—a ger who could still secure him ties with the registrar and Clerk Yang. That was all that mattered.

And this ger’s luck was exceptional—his identity had barely been exposed before he had already become close friends with the county magistrate’s son.

It was only then that Gold-Tooth had a delayed realization—No wonder Young Master Shen wasn’t interested when I gifted him two beauties. Turns out… he really wasn’t a man in that sense!

But the biggest shock came from the townspeople. Shen Qing was well-known for his generosity, and many businesses treated him like a treasured patron. When they found out he was a ger, the whole city buzzed with gossip. Many who had secretly admired him and hoped to marry into his wealth were utterly heartbroken.

Yet, no matter how shocking the revelation was, it was only a matter of time before people moved on. After a month or so of heated discussion, the novelty wore off. Eventually, as new rumors and scandals surfaced—who was fighting over inheritance, who was caught in a scandal—Shen Qing being a wealthy ger in town became just another ordinary fact of life.

The owner behind the pawnshop was initially furious upon hearing what had happened. Shen Qing had beaten his men—wasn’t that the same as slapping him in the face? But after inquiring about Shen Qing’s connections at the yamen, he immediately dropped any thoughts of retaliation. If it were just Clerk Yang, he might have let it slide, but the county registrar was not someone he could afford to offend. Moreover, Shen Qing was now frequently seen socializing with the magistrate’s ger, which completely snuffed out any lingering thoughts of revenge. All he could do was scold his subordinates and keep a low profile.

Regardless of where that ger’s wealth had come from—be it treasure or an ancient tomb—at this point, no matter how unwilling he was to let it go, there was no way he could get his hands on it. In the end, it would most likely fall into the county magistrate’s hands anyway. Since it was out of reach, it was pointless to dwell on it.

What he hadn’t expected was that Magistrate Lin wasn’t that kind of person at all.

The day Shen Qing’s identity was revealed, Lin Ning went home and told his father, mother, and uncle everything. The Lin family was utterly shocked. A ger disguising himself as a man and building such a vast business empire was unheard of anywhere. While Magistrate Lin was also curious about the origins of Shen Qing’s initial capital, he did not pry too deeply. Instead, the first thing he asked was: “He’s a ger—why was he staring at your uncle like that? And why did you waive his tab?”

Lin Ning: “……” Oh.

It was true—Shen Qing did look at Lin Xiangcao in a very peculiar way. Even though they were friends now, Shen Qing had never once looked at him like that.

Lin Ning mulled it over and decided that the next time he saw Shen Qing, he would ask him outright. That’s what friends were for, after all—being direct made everything easier. Turning back, he pulled out an embroidered box and handed it to his mother. “Qing Ge’er sent this for you!”

Lin Zhengjun opened the box to find a pair of red agate bracelets and a pendant made of white jade with agate veining, tied with a delicately knotted cord—perfectly suited for a fulang’s adornment.

This was worth quite a bit! Lin Zhengjun immediately passed the box to Magistrate Lin, whose face darkened upon seeing it. “Are you sure he befriended you because he genuinely sees you as a friend, and not because he wants to use you to get close to our family?”

Lin Ning, however, didn’t seem to care. “Does it even matter? He is my friend, so of course I’ll stand by him. He even saved my life! If it weren’t for him, that brat from the Zhou family… Hmph. Back then, he didn’t even know who I was, yet he still saved me. Now that I have the ability, why shouldn’t I help him in return?”

Magistrate Lin was thrown off by his son’s logic. It took him a long while before he coldly snorted, “That still won’t do. We can’t accept this gift—you’ll return it to him.”

Magistrate Lin was a peculiar man. He was not above favoritism—he had bent the rules plenty of times for Lin Xiangcao’s former in-laws, making things easier for them whenever possible. If Shen Qing had been a man and had married either Lin Ning or Lin Xiangcao, officially becoming part of the family, then he would have had no issue looking after him.

But a friend? That was a different matter entirely.

But now that they couldn’t become family, Shen Qing sending such an expensive gift outright made Magistrate Lin uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was because he was a scholar, carrying a certain sense of pride. Marriage ties were one thing, but he was unwilling to accept blatant bribery from outsiders. It was a bit of self-deception, a hypocritical righteousness, but that was just the kind of person he was. And, after all, even this kind of “false righteousness” was far better than being a truly corrupt official.

After being lectured by his father, Lin Ning had no choice but to return the embroidered box to Shen Qing. “My father won’t accept it. He said that if we are to be friends, small trinkets between us are fine, but don’t involve him in it, and don’t try giving him gifts.”

Recently, Shen Qing had indeed given him quite a few things. Since he was preparing to open the Cuihua Shop himself, he had been stocking up on merchandise and often invited Lin Ning to browse, letting him take whatever he liked. Hairbands woven by Ou Ge’er with butterfly patterns, silk handkerchiefs that were good quality but had stiff and rough embroidery from machine stitching, intricately designed velvet flowers—Shen Qing always waved them off as nothing, stuffing them into his hands.

Thinking of this, Lin Ning comforted Shen Qing, “But don’t worry. If anything really happens, I’ll go cry to my father—he definitely won’t sit idly by!” Just like last time, when the pawnshop workers tried to bully Shen Qing. Lin Ning had complained to Magistrate Lin, and though the man didn’t make a fuss about it, he still secretly pressured the pawnshop’s backer, warning them not to harass a ger just because they thought he was an easy target.

Shen Qing was a bit surprised. He had little experience dealing with officials. The only ones he had interacted with were Clerk Yang and the county registrar, and every time he sent Gold-Tooth over with gifts, they accepted them without hesitation and immediately reciprocated with favors—it was a clear-cut transaction. Magistrate Lin’s attitude, however, caught him off guard. Shen Qing could only assume he had encountered one of those “honest officials” like the ones in storytelling plays, and he couldn’t help but feel some respect.

Still, even honest officials had their own needs. Shen Qing thought of Shao Nan, whom he had met in the post-apocalyptic world. He also refused to take a single thing from the common people, but that wasn’t due to some noble enlightenment—it was simply his personal stance.

After some thought, Shen Qing put the box away and smiled. “I’ll be heading out for some trade soon. When I come back, I’ll bring back something good—I guarantee your father will like it!”

Lin Ning couldn’t imagine what that could possibly be. His father only loved his mother. He wasn’t particularly interested in money, didn’t enjoy drinking, and had no fascination with antiques or calligraphy. Before passing the imperial exam, he used to collect books, but he didn’t read them much anymore.

More curiously, he asked, “Why do you insist on giving my father something? I really don’t think it’s necessary. It’s not like you need him to do anything for you, and at this point, who in town would dare to cause you trouble?”

Shen Qing was stunned. Lin Ning’s words struck him, making him realize he might have fallen into a certain mindset.

The feeling of having a powerful backer was too good—so good that he couldn’t help but want to secure it even further, to make it even safer. After all, this time, he had only gone up against a pawnshop. What if next time he encountered someone even more powerful? There was always someone stronger in this world.

It seemed he lacked a sense of security. That’s why he was eager to align himself with greater power.

But was that really wrong? Predicting risks in advance and keeping situations within his control—wasn’t that what he had always done?

Shen Qing shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it too much. He followed Lin Ning’s lead and said, “You’re right. But what I have in mind isn’t just for winning your father’s favor—it would genuinely benefit the common people.”

Lin Ning wasn’t entirely sure what he meant.

What Shen Qing was referring to was a batch of newly developed, stable, and relatively high-yield crop seeds from the research institute. Two batches had already been produced—the first consisted of various vegetables, while the second included potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and soybeans. Rice and wheat were still being developed.

Based on rough calculations, the newly developed seeds could more than double the yield per acre compared to what Lantang Village currently produced. With the right fertilizers, the output could increase even further.

If these seeds were distributed across Anping County’s villages, the political benefits would be immense. No official could resist such an opportunity. And since Shen Qing was presenting the seeds openly, it shouldn’t count as bribery, right?

These seeds weren’t difficult to obtain. Under the military’s careful maneuvering, some had already leaked into the public domain, especially vegetable seeds—many wood-element ability users had a few. The government’s control over the research base had already weakened.

Moreover, Chen Jiaxi was currently working on the Third Farm Project. Shen Qing could always ask her for some.

However, when he returned and brought up Chen Jiaxi’s name, Song Kaiji’s expression darkened, looking unusually serious.

“…Do you know how she exposed the Third Farm’s situation?” Song Kaiji pinched the bridge of his nose, looking troubled. He himself didn’t know how to judge whether Chen Jiaxi was right or wrong, but he couldn’t shake his discomfort.

“…She deliberately triggered a mutant plant outbreak. She asked me for money, bribed one of the farm’s workers, and had them release a catalyst into the mutant plants, causing them excruciating pain and extreme aggression. Compared to what happened with Weiwei, this was far worse. Every plant in that area went berserk, injuring or maiming thirty-two wood-element ability users—one of them almost didn’t make it.”

But in the end, they managed to save him. Chen Jiaxi immediately reported the incident to the higher-ups. With some money she had borrowed from Song Kaiji and additional funds forcibly advanced from the research institute’s accounts with military backing, she arranged for all thirty-two injured individuals to undergo limb regeneration surgery. The most severely injured person was kept under emergency care for three days, receiving treatment from seven healing ability users working in tandem. In the end, his life was saved, and he made a full recovery.

Then came the backlash. Led by Qu Weiwei, several other victims—former colleagues she had painstakingly tracked down—staged a protest at the research institute.

Unlike Qu Weiwei, the others were missing arms or legs, and their grievances were genuine. Their demands were simple: why had this latest round of treatment been so thorough, while they had been abandoned and left permanently disabled?

With the military’s quiet assistance, the protestors were swiftly placed under protection, and the incident spiraled into a full-blown scandal. Before long, every former administrator of the Third Farm had been removed from their positions and sent to Red City Prison. Meanwhile, Chen Jiaxi was working tirelessly to secure her husband’s release.

“I don’t know how to describe how I feel about all of this,” Song Kaiji admitted. “Yes, the outcome is good—no one died, and all the injured have fully recovered. But mutated plants are unpredictable. If that person hadn’t made it, or if the plant outbreak had been even more severe and caused deaths on the spot… We were a part of this.” He pressed the back of his hand against his forehead.

God knows how agonizing those three days of emergency treatment had been for him. He had always understood that political struggles were brutal, built upon a foundation of bloodshed. Chen Jiaxi had once told them they were still just naïve children sheltered in an ivory tower, and perhaps she wasn’t wrong.

And yet, the final result was undeniably positive. Every injured person had been healed, and under military pressure, the government had been forced to relinquish significant control over the research institute. Many mid- and high-level officials had been dismissed as a result, and each of the injured individuals received generous compensation in material goods.

At this point, some people even considered themselves lucky to have been attacked that day. The pain had only lasted a couple of days before they were fully healed, and their newly regenerated limbs had even softer, smoother skin than before. Meanwhile, the compensation they received was enough to support their families comfortably for a long time.

The military was also working hard to track down other victims from Qu Weiwei’s group. In addition to compensating them with supplies, they were offered administrative positions at the Third Farm, allowing them to retire in comfort.

“Since Weiwei now has all four limbs intact, her abilities have advanced significantly, and she has been helping the military refine iron cage battle tactics, she’s built solid relationships there,” Song Kaiji continued. “The military is even considering having her work at the Third Farm. Chen Jiaxi suggested that the military appoint a new leader, while her husband and Weiwei would serve as co-deputies at the same level.”

Shen Qing paused for a moment before asking, “And how does Weiwei feel about that?”

“She’s still thinking it over.”

Shen Qing fell silent for a few moments, then reached out, interlocking his fingers with Song Kaiji’s over his hand. “This is a good thing. If she wants to go, she shouldn’t hold back because of me. Besides… even if she takes the job, it’s not like we’ll lose touch. We’re still partners, aren’t we?”

Spending time with Lin Ning gave Shen Qing a deeper understanding and appreciation of what friendship truly meant. He realized that he and Qu Weiwei also shared a bond of friendship—it wasn’t just about shared experiences or mutual benefit; there was something more to it.

Gently, he embraced Song Kaiji and repeated the same words Song Kaiji had once used to comfort him. “We don’t need to feel guilty over things that didn’t happen. Maybe… maybe Chen Jiaxi really did account for everything, calculating that there wouldn’t be any casualties. And in the end, she was right. Whether it was her careful planning or sheer luck… that’s her ability.”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Ch 157: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Ever since Shen Zhiwei was drowned to death, Miao Qiuduo’s family had fled Shiqu Village like dogs being chased away.

“You tell me, isn’t this Qing Ge’er something else? How can he be so bold? He even dared to hit his own father and forced his own uncle to death!” Huang Wulang patted his chest, still feeling lingering fear. In these times, clan values and filial piety were deeply ingrained, and Shen Qing’s actions completely overturned their understanding. Now that a life had been lost, he seemed even more ruthless.

“And you said your sister was easy to talk to? I don’t think she even takes you seriously!”

Miao Qiuduo was grinding her teeth in anger. “I never thought my brothers and sisters would be so quick to flatter the high and step on the low, without any regard for family ties!” And her mother! Every word was in favor of her elder sister and Qing Ge’er. Just because they were now successful and their household was thriving!

Yet she conveniently ignored the fact that she had not maintained contact with her maternal family for the past ten years. If anything, she was the truly selfish one, always siding with whoever was better off.

Huang Jinbao snorted twice on the side. “Cousin isn’t that bad… His uncle was the one who got Cousin Zhang killed—Zhang was his own younger brother! And he also caused Aunt to miscarry and become infertile. Cousin taking revenge on him was only right… As for his father, they cut ties long ago. He wasn’t a good person either…”

Even though Shen Qing had already rejected him and hadn’t shown him the slightest kindness, Huang Jinbao still couldn’t help but think about him. He was unwilling to hear his parents badmouth Shen Qing, and instinctively wanted to defend him.

“Shut up! He doesn’t even like you, and yet you’re still siding with him?” Miao Qiuduo, furious at his uselessness, kicked Huang Jinbao. “You’re really something! You’ve actually fallen for that ugly ger!”

Huang Jinbao wanted to protest that his cousin wasn’t ugly, but after rubbing his sore leg and seeing the fierce look in his mother’s eyes, he swallowed his words in grievance.

Miao Qiuduo knew full well that Shen Zhiwei had gotten what he deserved. But she wasn’t the only one—many in Lantang Village felt the same way. They believed that while Shen Zhiwei might deserve to die, he shouldn’t have been forced to death by Qing Ge’er!

If it had been Miao Xing and Miao Wang standing up for the Miao family and making Shen Zhiwei pay with his life, that would have been completely justified. But since it was Shen Qing, suddenly it became a case of forcing someone to their death, a grave transgression.

Because if Qing Ge’er could drive Shen Zhiwei to his death, then he could just as easily show no mercy to his aunt. And if he could do that, what was stopping others from following suit, showing disrespect to their elders, and disregarding so-called family ties? Shen Zhiwei’s actions became less important—what mattered was that these people stood on the same side as him. No one was without faults, and who could guarantee that they hadn’t done something wrong in the past? If even a small mistake could justify such treatment from the younger generation, how could they accept that?

Their perspectives were shaped by their self-interest, so naturally, they couldn’t approve of Shen Qing’s actions.

And wasn’t that exactly what was happening now? Shen Qing had shown no leniency toward his own father and uncle, so why would he make exceptions for his aunt? Miao Qiuduo was, of course, furious.

This time, they had returned believing their plans were foolproof. The grocery shop in the prefectural city had been shut down, and now they had to leave, unwillingly. Even though they had been living as they always had, in their minds, they had already counted Shen Qing’s wealth as their own, imagining how they would spend it. Now that they had to go back empty-handed, it felt like a tremendous loss. The fact that Shen Qing refused to let them take advantage of him felt, instead, like he owed them something, leaving them seething with resentment.

Adding to their frustration, while staying at Huang Sanlang’s house, he had initially hoped his sister-in-law would speak on his behalf, persuading the Lantang Village workshop to offer him a discount on starch sausages. Yet, instead, she had managed to offend everyone, shattering his hopes. As a result, the Huang family’s tone toward them had also grown increasingly unpleasant.

Life was going completely against her! Miao Qiuduo blamed everything on Shen Qing, and as her resentment built up, she hated him to the core.

While her family was still torn about whether to return to the prefectural city, they unexpectedly met the manager of a pawnshop. Anping County wasn’t big, and there weren’t that many businesspeople—most of them knew each other, and even if they hadn’t met in person, they had at least heard of one another. Huang Sanlang’s family had been running a grocery shop in the county for over twenty years and had some ties with this manager.

At first, Miao Qiuduo used Shen Qing’s name to elevate her own status, afraid that the manager would look down on her. But she was too bitter, and within a few sentences, she had turned Shen Qing into gossip, her jealousy practically oozing from her words. “This time, we were just too sentimental, thinking that since we were real family, he’d surely help us out. Who would have thought he wouldn’t see it that way? And now we’ve ended up with nothing.”

As she spoke, Huang Sanlang looked a little uncomfortable, and his wife rolled her eyes impatiently.

Family? There was no one in their household as heartless as the fifth branch of their family, and yet she had the gall to talk about others?

“My nephew only has eyes for money now—he doesn’t see his own family at all. I won’t say much, but who even knows where that money of his came from? I wouldn’t touch it even if you paid me. And every day in the county, he struts around pretending to be a man, cozying up with this one and that one… Tsk.”

Miao Qiuduo originally just wanted to spread some nasty rumors about Shen Qing to vent her anger. But she never expected that one of the pawnshop clerks would recognize who she was talking about. He had seen Shen Qing before at the stuffed sausage shop and had found him familiar but couldn’t recall where from. Now, hearing Miao Qiuduo’s words, a realization hit him like a bolt of lightning, and he blurted out, “Ah, it’s him! That Young Master Shen who runs the blooming sausage shop?”

Miao Qiuduo curled her lips. “Who else? What ‘Young Master Shen’? He’s just my sister’s little ger. Put him in some fancy clothes and cover his ger mark, and he dares to pretend to be a man! Pah! A ger is a ger—even if he wore the emperor’s robes, he’d never be a crown prince!”

Belittling Shen Qing like this made her feel immensely satisfied, as if by dragging him down, she had elevated herself above him, filling her with a false sense of superiority.

With that kind of attitude, who would still see her as Shen Qing’s relative? She was more like his enemy. The pawnshop manager and his clerk exchanged glances, then pulled Miao Qiuduo aside to ask about Shen Qing’s background. Once their information was compared, the mystery surrounding him only deepened. According to Old Lady Miao and Miao Qiuduo, Shen Qing’s current success was due to catching the attention of a powerful benefactor from out of town. That benefactor had recently arrived in Anping County and needed capable people, and Shen Qing had seized the opportunity.

But the people at the pawnshop had been in the county for years—where was this so-called out-of-town benefactor? Wasn’t it just Shen Qing himself?

Was he pretending to be his own benefactor? If this benefactor didn’t exist, then where had this ger’s money come from?

The pawnshop manager suddenly recalled the exquisite jewelry Shen Qing had once pawned.

“His family would prepare a dowry for him? He’s bluffing!” Miao Qiuduo immediately exposed Shen Qing’s previous excuse. “My sister’s mother-in-law is stingy beyond belief and has always despised gers. Forget about preparing a dowry—she’d rather sell him off and send him bare-handed to a husband’s home!”

She did know Shen Qing’s mother well.

“Then his money definitely didn’t come from a proper source.” The pawnshop manager’s eyes gleamed—he had been thinking about this matter for a long time, and now he was finally seeing a lead. Other gers might have made money through flesh trade before starting a small business and working their way up. But Shen Qing? With that face? That was impossible. Those pieces of jewelry must have had another origin.

Had he unearthed an ancient tomb in the mountains? Or some hidden treasure? That seemed like the most likely explanation. But whatever the truth was, Shen Qing’s wealth had become a tempting target. The pawnshop manager and Miao Qiuduo quickly came to an agreement: they would expose Shen Qing’s identity in public, making it impossible for him to stay in the county, and then force him to reveal the source of his money, splitting it fifty-fifty.

And after that, Miao Qiuduo could use this leverage to force her sister to marry Qing Ge’er off to Jinbao, locking him up in the inner residence. Once that happened, Shen Qing’s rural workshops would all become their property.

To be fair, this plan wasn’t exactly legal, but such schemes had succeeded plenty of times before. For example, if a powerful family took a liking to someone’s inherited craftsmanship, they would frame the husband, either killing him or throwing him in prison, then forcibly taking the wife as a concubine to obtain their family’s secret recipe.

In this era, becoming a concubine wasn’t just about marriage—it was a way to legally turn a woman or a ger into someone’s property.

Of course, there were many illegal aspects to this. For instance, why would the wife willingly become a concubine? But once she was forcibly taken into the household, or if her reputation was ruined, she would have no choice. And once the man of the family was gone, who cared about the wishes of the women and gers left behind? In the face of power, there was always room for manipulation. In fact, the backer behind this pawnshop had succeeded in such schemes more times than one could count.

Bullying the weak had become second nature to them, and now they simply saw Shen Qing as another easy target—a countryside ger using deception to put on airs. What was there to be afraid of?

So, on this very day, Miao Qiuduo took the lead in publicly exposing Shen Qing’s identity.

What they didn’t know was that ever since Miao Qiuduo had threatened to reveal his identity back at the Miao household, Shen Qing had already been considering the matter.

But he wasn’t thinking about how troublesome it would be to be exposed. Instead, he was starting to wonder—should he reveal his identity himself?

Originally, he had disguised himself as a man because he was weak. If he went somewhere, he would be threatened and intimidated. If he tried to buy something, he would be looked down on. Because in this world, men were valued while gers were despised. No one respected gers. At the time, Shen Qing had no way to earn respect or be treated fairly as a ger, so he could only borrow the identity of a man to protect himself.

But a borrowed identity was still borrowed.

Did people respect him as Shen Qing, or only because of the male persona he had put on?

It wasn’t until Miao Qiuduo’s threats that Shen Qing suddenly realized—at this point, was he really still afraid of being exposed?

There had been times in the past when Shen Qing not only pretended to be a man but had even wished he truly was one, especially after Shen Zhang had just died.

If he were a man, then he and the Miao family wouldn’t have suffered so much injustice in the Shen household. He could have protected his mother and stood up for the Miao family. If he were a man, he wouldn’t have had to go through so much trouble just to establish himself.

If he were a man, back when they were kids, Wang Liuzi and the others wouldn’t have dared to bully him.

But that was the Shen Qing of a long time ago. As time passed, looking back now, he realized that what he had wished for was not to truly become a man, but rather to have the same rights and treatment as one. It was his first awareness of injustice, an initial awakening to the concept of fairness.

With no one to guide him or teach him what fairness truly was, the only path he could see back then to achieving it was to become a man.

But now, he understood—if gers and women could inherently receive the same rights and treatment, who would care whether they were a ger or a woman? Who would care whether they had the so-called ability to “continue the family line”?

The women he had encountered in the post-apocalyptic world—Qu Weiwei, Ge Bingbing, Chen Jiaxi—none of them had ever felt inferior because they were women. Not a single one had considered themselves lesser than men, nor had any of them resented their identity as women. They were women, yet they were in no way inferior to men.

Even Yu Le, who had once suffered misfortune.

From them, Shen Qing had learned a great deal. He learned to face his gender head-on, to stop blaming himself for the faults of society and his environment, to no longer desire to be a man. Because now, as a ger, he had already surpassed most men by a thousandfold.

He wanted to shed this false identity of a man. After all, as long as he wore this disguise, his success and excellence would always be overshadowed by societal perceptions. He did not want that shadow. He wanted to prove that even as a ger, he could still be just as successful and just as worthy of respect.

The respected—perhaps even feared—owner of the stuffed sausage shop didn’t have to be some “Young Master Shen” from out of town. He could stand openly and righteously as who he truly was—Shen Qing, a ger.

Shen Qing had thought about this for some time, only hesitating because he hadn’t found the right moment to reveal himself. After all, it wasn’t just about changing his public identity; he had also spun a web of lies around himself. And those lies… were what troubled him the most. He didn’t know how to unravel them.

But today, Miao Qiuduo and the pawnshop clerk had conveniently given him the perfect push.

So he dropped his disguise and stood before them, unshaken, and asked outright, “I am a ger—so what?”

Miao Qiuduo and the pawnshop clerk were stunned. Shen Qing’s reaction was completely outside their expectations. Why wasn’t he panicking? Why wasn’t he flustered?

Shouldn’t he be breaking down in shame, covering his face with his sleeve, or desperately denying that he was a ger? Then they could have pounced on him, seized him, exposed his identity completely, and made sure he could never show his face in Anping County again…

Why did he seem not ashamed at all, but rather proud?

The pawnshop clerk hesitated, momentarily intimidated by Shen Qing’s presence. He stammered, “Y-You’re just some countryside ger! How dare you pretend to be Young Master Shen and deceive so many people? How could a country ger possibly have enough money to open a shop? Your money must have come from some shady source! You’d better confess—”

Before he could finish, Shen Qing stepped forward.

The clerk: !!! Why is he coming toward me instead of being scared?!

A second later, a sharp slap landed across his face, sending a ringing noise through his ears.

He looked at Shen Qing in disbelief.

“That’s twice now,” Shen Qing said coldly. He then turned and delivered another slap to the pawnshop’s counter clerk.

The counter clerk: ?? I haven’t even said anything yet!!

Shen Qing kindly clarified for him. “Last time I went to your pawnshop to pawn something, you accused me of having stolen goods. And now you dare bring that up again? It seems you haven’t learned your lesson, have you?”

Miao Qiuduo was dumbfounded. It took her a moment to shriek, “How dare you hit people?! Do you have no respect for the law?!”

“The law?” Shen Qing sneered. “Aunt, don’t you find it laughable for those words to come from your mouth? They can slander me however they please, but I can’t teach them a lesson in return? And looking at your stance, you’re not just here to yell at me, are you? But have you all forgotten—whose territory is this? Whose building is this?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the back door of the shop was kicked open. Ruyi stormed in with six or seven young men, along with four strong, broad-shouldered gers, all wielding clubs and wooden sticks. They surrounded Miao Qiuduo and the others in an instant.

Miao Qiuduo was petrified. This was not how things were supposed to go! She had never seen such a display before. Those young men and burly gers looked menacing, their eyes glaring like they were ready to devour people. Terrified, she let out a piercing scream and buried herself in Huang Wulang’s arms, not daring to lift her head.

Huang Wulang quickly glanced at the pawnshop clerks, only to find them just as horrified, completely at a loss. The men they had brought along were even worse—soft as noodles, defeated in mere moments by Shen Qing’s people.

Utterly crushed. Huang Wulang regretted everything. He should have known better—what kind of person would dare to drive his own uncle to his death? Only a fool would think the pawnshop manager’s connections in the county could stand up to this. “Young Master Shen” was no ordinary commoner!

“Qing Ge’er, Qing Ge’er, this is all a misunderstanding! We’re real family… Your aunt was only worried that life in the county was too hard for a ger like you… We—we were deceived into this!” Huang Wulang babbled, tightly clutching Miao Qiuduo as they cowered in the corner.

“Don’t get too full of yourself! You still dared to hit me!” the counter clerk snarled, clutching his face, but his tone was more bark than bite. Shen Qing’s slap had left his teeth loose and his mouth filled with the taste of blood. “I’m going to the magistrate’s office to report you!”

Shen Qing let out a cold laugh and stepped closer. The clerk, who had just been putting up a tough front, immediately shrank back in fear. But Shen Qing grabbed his collar, yanked him forward, and threw him to the ground, stomping his foot onto the man’s face.

“Go report me, then,” Shen Qing said icily. “Which official in the county are you cozy with? Which registrar or clerk do you think will make a fuss over this slap? Let’s see how much trouble you can stir up. And if you don’t go, I might just take the trouble to do it myself.”

His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “Did you think I didn’t know about the dirty dealings your pawnshop was involved in back then? Do you think I still don’t know now? Go ahead, run to the authorities. Let’s see which crime is taken more seriously—me slapping you, or your pawnshop colluding with corrupt clerks and secretly fencing stolen goods.”

The counter clerk lay there, his mouth gaping open. “You—you—” He stammered, but no words came out.

Shen Qing glanced toward the door. “Brother Jin.”

Gold-Tooth, who had been standing frozen in shock, had even dropped his stuffed sausage on the ground. But hearing Shen Qing call him, he only hesitated for a moment before quickly recovering and stepping forward respectfully. “Young Master Shen.”

“The shop space I rented to them—can I terminate the lease?”

Gold-Tooth was the one who had arranged the rental agreement back then, but Shen Qing had no intention of letting these people stay any longer. He wasn’t about to keep them around just to irritate himself.

“Y-Yes, of course!” Gold-Tooth forced himself to shake off his daze and focus. “It was a one-year lease. If Young Master Shen returns their deposit and compensates one month’s rent, you can terminate the contract!”

Shen Qing nodded. “Then cancel it for me. Just the thought of renting this place to them disgusts me.” He pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket and handed it to Gold-Tooth. “The extra is for you. Take care of it for me.”

Then he turned to his own people. “Throw everything in this shop out. Throw them out too.”

His men immediately got to work. Tieshan joined in, furious. Saying they were throwing things out was putting it lightly—this was practically wrecking the shop. They grabbed whatever they could and tossed it out the door.

The onlookers outside had been hesitant to step forward at first, wary of the commotion. But soon, a few bold ones darted in, snatching up whatever landed on the ground and running off.

The owner of the Cuihua Shop clutched his chest as if he were in deep pain. “I never said I wanted to terminate the lease! How can you just cancel it on your own? Is there no law in this place?!” He deeply regretted getting involved with the pawnshop’s clerk. Though they shared the same backer, this shop was part of his business performance. The pawnshop wouldn’t compensate him for such a huge loss!

Shen Qing simply watched their wailing with cold indifference. “If you try to scheme against others, you should be prepared to hit an iron wall. Did you really think people would just let you manipulate them as you please? Even now, you still see me as that naive village ger you could easily bully and control? You’re far more foolish than I thought.”

He withdrew his foot and kicked the counter clerk away. The pawnshop workers were still defiant, and the one who had been stepped on stared at Shen Qing with venomous hatred, seething over the humiliation.

However, Gold-Tooth leaned in and whispered a few words into their ears. Their resistance instantly deflated.

The county registrar and Clerk Yang were not people they could afford to offend. Even if they wanted to sue, they had no real chance of winning. Besides, just thinking about it rationally—going to the county office over something as trivial as getting slapped? The magistrate would only see it as a joke. If they were lucky, they wouldn’t be thrown out with a flogging!

They had spent their whole lives bullying others, and now, for the first time, they were the ones being bullied. They were suffocated with frustration and unwillingness, yet there was nothing they could do!

Lin Ning glanced around, then tugged at Shen Qing’s sleeve and whispered, “If they do report you, I’ll testify for you. They were the ones who surrounded you first, and you only fought back. My father will believe me.”

Shen Qing was briefly taken aback—he had almost forgotten that Lin Ning and Lin Zao were still there. Lin Zao was staring in shock, while Lin Ning’s eyes were shining with excitement. “You were really impressive just now! That was amazing!”

So… the little mirror hadn’t been given for nothing?

At first, Shen Qing hadn’t even considered using Lin Ning’s influence. He had been careful not to go too far—he had only slapped the two who had slandered him, and the others were merely surrounded to intimidate them. If the pawnshop people liked to scare others, why couldn’t he turn the tables on them?

Throwing out their belongings was just part of terminating the contract. It wasn’t like he refused to compensate them—he could just pay extra and buy himself some peace of mind. Even if things went to court, there wouldn’t be any real consequences. At most, he would have to send some generous gifts to the county registrar and Clerk Yang.

But now that Lin Ning had spoken up, Shen Qing started thinking—if he could rely on the registrar and the clerks, then why not establish a connection with the magistrate as well?

As he turned to smile at Lin Ning, he saw the young ger’s face flush slightly. Lin Ning lowered his head, looking a bit embarrassed as he mumbled, “I didn’t know before… You’re a ger too… I’m a ger as well. S-So… can we be friends?”

Shen Qing: ? Something about this feels off.

But… friends?

Shen Qing hesitated. He… had never really had friends.

Especially in the past. He could never get along with the gers and girls in the village, spending his days running up and down the mountains instead. Unlike others, he never had the luxury of free time to make friends or maintain relationships—his every moment was spent trying to fill his stomach.

Later… did Lian Rong count? No, Lian Rong had always felt more like a little sister. And Ou Ge’er? They were never really close, only connected through Second Aunt Lian.

And in the post-apocalyptic world… Maybe, at first, he had considered Song Kaiji a friend. But they had quickly ended up together. As for Qu Weiwei, Tang Wenjie, and Chen Jiaxi, there was camaraderie, but their roles as subordinates were far more distinct.

Or rather, they were Song Kaiji’s friends, and Shen Qing had only developed bonds with them through his connection to Song Kaiji.

Only now did Shen Qing realize—his life had always lacked friendship. He had been too focused on survival, always weighing whether a person was useful to him before deciding how much time, emotion, and effort to invest in them. Even with Song Kaiji and Qu Weiwei, his initial approach had been calculated.

He had never opened his heart to anyone without reason, nor had he ever thought it necessary.

Shen Qing looked at Lin Ning, who was staring at him with bright, sincere eyes. In that moment, Lin Ning no longer seemed like the county magistrate’s son. His expression was pure, and his invitation didn’t feel like just a simple offer of friendship—it felt like an opportunity. An opportunity for Shen Qing to complete himself, to take another step forward in his life.

Shen Qing scratched his head, the sharp and decisive figure from moments ago now looking a little dazed. Awkwardly, he admitted, “I… I’ve never really had a friend before. I might not be very good at it. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to try.”

Under the cover of his sleeve, Lin Ning pinched his thigh hard to keep himself from grinning too foolishly. He wanted his smile to look normal, but his eyes curved with warmth as he replied solemnly, “Alright.”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Ch 156: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

That evening, when Second Aunt Lian returned home from work, Lian Rong vividly recounted the events of the day to her. Seeing Wang Shi’s eyes swollen like walnuts, yet still glaring at their side like a jealous rooster, Second Aunt Lian felt even more annoyed.

She wanted to go to Old Lady Lian to argue her case, but Old Lady Lian was clearly impatient, her expression dark and unwilling to listen. Left with no choice, Second Aunt Lian returned to her room and began whispering to her husband, working her persuasion in bed.

“You take a look at your eldest sister-in-law and the kind of things she does—she just can’t stand to see our family doing well,” Second Aunt Lian said, carefully watching her husband’s expression as she spoke gently. “We’re all one family, all share the Lian surname. If it’s about helping out your elder brother, it’s not like we can’t.”

Afraid her husband might immediately suggest helping the eldest branch, Second Aunt Lian quickly added, “But that’s not the issue here! If someone wants help, they should at least ask properly, right? If she lowered her head, said a few soft words to me, and compensated me for the headscarf she tossed into the pigsty before, I could at least try to let bygones be bygones and look after her children when I can. But what did she do instead? Do we owe her something? Not only does she expect us to help, but she holds a grudge when we don’t! She even sneaked into Ou Ge’er’s room to steal things. And this is just because Ou Ge’er craftwork is something Qing Ge’er came up with himself—imagine if he were working for some wealthy patron! You know how Qing Ge’er has strict rules at the workshop—he’s said it again and again, not even a sliver of meat or a single sweet potato is to be stolen, or they’ll be kicked out and never hired again. Those wealthy folks despise workers who aren’t clean-handed. Doesn’t she realize she could ruin Ou Ge’er’s livelihood too?”

Lian Lao’er lay on the kang, staring at the ceiling in silence. He was an honest man, and his son, Lian Shi, had inherited that same temperament. Lian Rong, on the other hand, took after Second Aunt Lian—lively, talkative, and sharp-witted. But even this honest man had been feeling increasingly uneasy lately.

Their family’s situation wasn’t like the Shen family’s. Old Man Shen and Old Lady Shen had been blatantly biased from the start, but in the Lian family, things hadn’t always been like this. Both he and his elder brother had been treated equally when it came to marriage—his parents arranged for his elder brother to marry a woman, and they did the same for him. That was how it should be. And compared to other families in the village, especially the Shen family, Lian Lao’er had always felt grateful, believing his parents had treated him fairly.

Back then, while the family did lean slightly toward favoring the eldest son, they hadn’t particularly shortchanged him either. Sure, Lian Bao got to eat and wear better than Lian Rong or Lian Qiao, but that was because he was a boy. When Lian Shi was young, he was treated the same way—his parents weren’t biased toward the eldest branch, they were just equally focused on favoring their sons. Wang Shi had the luck of birthing two boys, while their second branch didn’t—what was there to argue about?

At the root of it, maybe it was because neither branch had anyone particularly outstanding before, so their capabilities and living standards had always been about the same, leaving little room for favoritism. But now that the family was doing better, now that his branch was making money, why had their parents changed?

Lian Lao’er didn’t want to admit his parents had become biased, so he pushed all the blame onto Wang Shi. Second Aunt Lian kept whispering about all the grievances their children had suffered, and Lian Lao’er turned over, speaking gruffly, “So what do you expect me to do? No matter how bad she is, she’s been with my elder brother for so many years, and they have all those children together. We’re already grandparents now—what, do you want our mother to force my brother to divorce her and marry someone else? Just endure it. Go buy some locks in town, and when we’re not home, lock up the doors and windows to keep her out.”

Hearing her husband complain about Wang Shi just like she did, Second Aunt Lian felt a little encouraged and gathered her courage to say, “I’m not saying your brother should divorce her—maybe their marriage is perfectly fine, and we’d just look like villains trying to break them up. What I’m thinking is… can’t we split the family?”

“What?!” Lian Lao’er nearly jumped off the kang, his tone immediately turning harsh.

“We can take care of Father and Mother! We won’t ask for any money or property—we’ll leave it all to the eldest branch, and we won’t expect them to provide for our parents either!” Second Aunt Lian quickly laid out the plan she had been mulling over for a long time. She knew that if she didn’t offer a major concession, there was no way to break free from the eldest branch’s leeching. But she was willing to give up short-term benefits if it meant she wouldn’t have to be drained by them for a lifetime!

Hearing her out, Lian Lao’er’s expression relaxed slightly, but he still frowned. “We can’t split up the family like this. In the village, families only separate after the elders pass away. If we say we want to split now, wouldn’t that mean we’re hoping for Father and Mother to… No, this won’t work. If word gets out, the whole village will scorn us.”

Second Aunt Lian felt disappointed but had already expected his refusal. She knew splitting the family was no small matter and that convincing her husband wouldn’t be easy in just one conversation. Being rejected this time didn’t discourage her. At least Lian Lao’er’s reaction wasn’t overly strong—it seemed like he was tempted but still restrained by filial piety and village customs. Thinking quickly, she said, “Fine, we’ll put the matter of splitting the family aside for now, but we can’t keep going on like this either. We, as children, have our responsibilities, I won’t argue about that. But I gave birth to my own children, and I will look out for them first. Ou Ge’er is getting close to marriage age. Any money he earns from Qing Ge’er, no matter how much, should be kept for himself to use as his dowry.”

This meant that any money Lian Ou earned would no longer be handed over to the communal family fund. The second branch was starting to stash away their own savings!

Lian Lao’er struggled internally but eventually nodded. “Alright… Ou Ge’er is just a ger, how much can he even make? No need to tell Mother about this.”

Seeing him agree, Second Aunt Lian grinned happily. First, they would set aside Ou Ge’er’s earnings. Then, they would slowly separate Lian Shi, Yu Ge’er, and all the other children. Once they could keep their own money and stop handing it over to the communal fund, they’d essentially be living like they were already split from the family, even if they still shared a courtyard. “Then I’ll head into town in a few days to buy some good locks.”

If they were going to start saving money, then those locks would be more important than ever!

The next day, Second Aunt Lian went straight to Old Lady Lian to ask for money to buy locks. Given the incident the previous day, where Wang Shi had stolen from Lian Ou’s room, Old Lady Lian, though reluctant, still handed over the money. Soon after, heavy locks were installed on the doors of the western wing, and even the windows had small locks. Seeing this, Wang Shi was so furious she nearly ground her teeth to dust. Wasn’t this a blatant slap to her face?

She went to Old Lady Lian to complain, only to be met with a scolding. At this point, even Old Lady Lian was fed up with her—so many household conflicts had stemmed from Wang Shi’s jealousy, and if this kept up, the second branch might completely turn their backs on the family!

Inwardly, Old Lady Lian resented her past judgment—why had she chosen such a troublemaker for her eldest son? But then she remembered—her real pick had been Shen Lingzhi. Thinking of this, she could only let out a long, weary sigh.

Meanwhile, in the Shen family, Shen Zhigao had been recovering for over a month. The wounds on his body had mostly healed, though one of his legs had been injured badly, leaving him with a slight limp. Now, he had to rely on a wooden cane just to walk.

That month had been absolute misery for the Shen family. Shen Zhiwei was dead, Zhao Aiye had been sent off in marriage to a faraway village, and Old Man Shen was bedridden. Li Jiaofeng was too preoccupied with her own child to care much for him, only tending to him occasionally. Old Lady Shen had to take care of her paralyzed husband while also dealing with Shen Zhuang’s constant tantrums. No one tended to the fields anymore—they had long been overgrown with weeds. As for where their next season’s grain would come from, that was anyone’s guess.

As soon as Shen Zhigao could get out of bed, Old Lady Shen began urging him to go to the county town. “Go bring your eldest sister back to help for a couple of days. My old bones can’t take this anymore.”

There was no one left in the house to work like an ox or a horse, and she had finally become the true beast of burden. Though Li Jiaofeng was still around, first, she didn’t listen to her; second, what kind of daughter-in-law would be expected to personally tend to her father-in-law? These filthy and exhausting chores still fell on Old Lady Shen! “Tell your eldest sister to bring some money too—our grain is about to run out.”

Shen Zhigao muttered, “Last time when Qiangzi was sick, we went to borrow money from Eldest Sister, and she said she didn’t have any…” If Shen Lingzhi had given them money back then, they wouldn’t have had to sell Shen Xiaojian, and none of the following disasters would have happened. Thinking back, Shen Zhiwei still held some resentment toward Shen Lingzhi.

“How is that the same? Qiangzi is just her nephew, but this is her own father!” Old Lady Shen snapped. Hearing this, Shen Zhigao felt she had a point, so he asked Li Jiaofeng to borrow a cart from the village chief and headed to the county—his leg certainly wouldn’t let him walk all the way there!

However, when he arrived at the county and found Shen Lingzhi’s house, he knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered. At first, Shen Zhigao thought she was avoiding him, but as time dragged on and he couldn’t hear a single sound from inside, he started feeling uneasy.

After hesitating for a moment, he knocked on the neighbor’s door.

“You mean Old Wang’s house at the end there?” Wang was Shen Lingzhi’s husband’s surname. Shen Zhigao quickly nodded. “Excuse me, have they gone out? When will they be back?”

The neighbor gave him a once-over before replying, “They’re not coming back.”

Shen Zhigao was stunned. “What do you mean they’re not coming back? Where did they go?”

“Who are you to them?” The neighbor sized him up and questioned him thoroughly. Upon learning that he was Shen Lingzhi’s younger brother—come to seek refuge, or rather, to freeload—it was obvious to anyone what his intentions were. A hint of disdain flickered in the neighbor’s eyes, but they still patiently explained, “Old Wang passed away at the beginning of the month. His wife sold this house, took her three children, and moved away. We don’t know where they went.”

Shen Zhigao stood dazed for a long time before he finally recalled that the last time he had come to borrow money from Shen Lingzhi, she had told him about her struggles—her husband had fallen ill, and all their money had been spent on medicine, leaving her unable to lend anything.

But why would he have cared about Shen Lingzhi’s troubles? He had only been focused on squeezing every last drop from his sister, on reaching into her pockets and taking the last coin for himself!

And now, just like that, Shen Lingzhi was gone! His family’s grain supply was nearly empty, he couldn’t borrow money, and he couldn’t bring Shen Lingzhi back to help with the work. What was his family supposed to do now?

From a distance, at the entrance of the alleyway, Shen Qing watched as Shen Zhigao squatted in front of the small courtyard, wailing in despair, pounding on the door with frustration. The neighbors had already been frightened by his display and had hurriedly retreated into their homes, shutting their doors tightly.

Shen Qing hadn’t expected to run into Shen Zhigao here. After that night, he hadn’t seen anyone from the Shen family again. At this moment, he tilted his head and quietly said to Gold-Tooth, “Forget it, let’s not bother looking at this house.”

Gold-Tooth was puzzled. “Where did this lunatic blocking the door come from?”

Shen Qing didn’t mention that he recognized Shen Zhigao. In fact, he had just learned that this house had belonged to Shen Lingzhi. Gold-Tooth had only told him that he recently acquired a small courtyard at a great bargain, especially with good fortune attached—the son of the previous owner had passed the entrance exam for a child scholar (tongsheng) at a young age. Though the old man had passed away, his wife planned to sell the house and move to a residence near the prefectural academy so the boy could focus on his studies and, with luck, one day become a successful scholar.

Many people had their eyes on this house. Even though it was just a small courtyard, who wouldn’t want to absorb a bit of its scholarly aura? A child scholar was already impressive in Anping County—perhaps living in this house would bring similar fortune to its new owner.

Hearing that this unseen cousin had done well for himself, Shen Qing felt genuinely pleased. He loathed and despised the Shen family, but that did not include Shen Lingzhi, whom he had never met. She, like him, was a victim of the Shen family.

However, this house was no longer an option for purchase. If Shen Zhigao refused to let go and kept coming back to make a scene, and then discovered that Shen Qing had bought it, it would only bring unnecessary trouble.

Still, thinking of Shen Lingzhi, Shen Qing was reminded of something else. He turned to Gold-Tooth and asked, “Brother Jin, do you know the other brokers in town?”

Gold-Tooth’s instincts immediately flared up. Was Shen Qing dissatisfied with his services and looking to expand his network? However, since the question was asked, he humbly replied, “I wouldn’t say I know them well. Some I don’t get along with, but I’m familiar with most of them.”

Rivals in business, even enemies, still knew of each other.

Shen Qing thought for a moment and described a person from his memory: “A middle-aged woman, around forty years old? She has a black mole, about the size of a soybean, near the right side of her lip. She’s always followed by a few young men.”

Gold-Tooth immediately knew who he was talking about. “That sounds like Madam Cheng from the south side of town. Why, do you know her?”

Shen Qing shook his head. “She recently went to Lantang Village and bought a little girl named Shen Xiaojian.”

Shen—the same surname. It seemed this must have some connection to Shen Qing. Gold-Tooth studied his expression carefully and tactfully offered, “Would you like me to help track down that girl?”

“No need.” Shen Qing refused without hesitation. After a brief pause, he took out a small piece of silver from his pocket and handed it to Gold-Tooth. “If you have any dealings with Madam Cheng, pass along a message—just ask her not to sell that girl into any unsavory places. The rest, I don’t particularly care about.”

Gold-Tooth, however, pushed the silver back. “Rest assured, Young Master Shen. Madam Cheng runs a respectable business. The girls she buys are usually sold to wealthy households as maids, married off to poor families as wives, or taken in as concubines by middle-class families. She never deals in brothels or lowly establishments.”

Only then did Shen Qing feel at ease. Shen Xiaojian had been unpleasant, but she was, after all, just a child—not even ten years old yet. However wicked she had been, it was still limited, and she had been influenced by her parents. This was as much as he could do; if Madam Cheng stayed away from brothels and red-light districts, then the rest would depend on Shen Xiaojian’s own fate.

Since the house was off the table, Shen Qing and Gold-Tooth returned to the fried sausage shop. Gold-Tooth was quite fond of these fried snacks and went off to order something on his own.

The weather was growing hotter, and business was slowing down compared to before. Meanwhile, the neighboring shop selling sweetened drinks was seeing an increase in customers. Ruyi, watching enviously, sighed, “By the time summer arrives, even fewer people will want fried food. Everyone will be craving cold drinks—now that’s where the real money is. Back at the magistrate’s manor, we used to make chilled drinks. The syrup is easy to prepare, but ice is rare. You have to cut it in winter and store it in an ice cellar so you can use it the next year.”

Shen Qing was struck with inspiration. “Do we have an ice cellar at our estate? If not, we should have one built.”

He had a ready-made ice-making machine called Ge Bingbing, and it didn’t even require electricity. He could have Ge Bingbing make ice, store it in his space, and bring it over as needed.

Since the shop next door specialized in sweet drinks, it wouldn’t be wise to compete directly. But partnering with them could be an excellent idea. The details, of course, could be left to Ruyi to handle.

As the two were chatting, someone called out to him from the side. “Young Master Shen.”

Shen Qing turned around and saw that it was the county magistrate’s ger son again. He glanced around Lin Ning but only saw Zao Ge’er; the county magistrate’s younger brother wasn’t present. Smiling, he asked, “Why didn’t that ger come today?”

After all, he had said that as long as Lin Xiangcao came, the meal would be on the house.

Lin Ning: “…” Sure enough, he was interested in his little uncle. His feelings were complicated, but he managed a smile. “My little uncle hasn’t been in the mood to go out lately. He’s staying at home.”

Shen Qing nodded. “See if there’s anything he likes to eat, take some back for him. My treat.”

Lin Ning: “…Alright.” He hesitated for a moment before adding, “I’ll pick them out first and come back to get them later. I’m heading next door to buy a hairband.”

With the change of seasons, it was time for new clothes, and new clothes needed matching accessories. The Cuihua shop next to the fried sausage store was conveniently located, and since Lin Ning often came to eat here, he also browsed the shop frequently. Over time, he had found that it carried some decent items, and occasionally, he even discovered interesting little trinkets.

Speaking of the Cuihua shop, Shen Qing also wanted to take a look. When disguised as a man, it was sometimes inconvenient for him to enter such stores, so he usually just loitered outside. But if he went with Lin Ning, it would be much easier. He said, “I happen to need to buy a few things too. Let’s go together.”

Lin Ning was startled for a moment, recalling the two sedan chairs from before. Hesitating, he asked, “Are you buying for your family’s womenfolk?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes,” Shen Qing responded casually without much thought. “For my younger siblings at home.”

He was actually planning to buy some decorative knots or accessories with knots to take back for Ou Ge’er. Perhaps they would inspire him to create new designs.

Hearing this, Lin Ning was delighted. So, they really were his younger siblings? That meant even if Shen Qing didn’t like him, there was still a good chance he would end up with his little uncle, and they could be family!

Feeling cheerful, Lin Ning accompanied Shen Qing to the shop. The selection inside was indeed extensive. Wanting to prolong their conversation, Lin Ning deliberately introduced various styles and asked about Shen Qing’s younger siblings’ preferences. Shen Qing, who didn’t know much about these things, was happy to chat with Lin Ning, as it would help him learn more for his own future Cuihua shop.

Each of them picked out a few items they liked. Shen Qing bought several braided hairbands, a few sachets with decorative knotwork at both ends, as well as tasseled cords and fan cases woven with silk thread and adorned with beads.

Lin Ning selected a small wooden comb and a round brass mirror, while Zao Ge’er chose a headscarf.

Shen Qing paid for everything directly. For one, he wanted to build a good rapport with the county magistrate’s ger son—who knew when that connection might come in handy? Not everyone got the chance to save the magistrate’s ger son and establish such a link. He intended to maintain it. Secondly, it was a gesture of appreciation to Lin Ning for introducing him to this Cuihua shop.

Glancing at the brass mirror in Lin Ning’s hand, he casually pulled out a small mercury mirror and handed it over. “This is for you.”

This was something he had picked up from a wholesale market. These small round mirrors were typically given away as free gifts by jewelry or cosmetics shops. They had a thin layer of tin on the outside, printed with various cartoon images, making them look cheap and crude. Shen Qing had Tang Wenjie remove the tin casing, leaving only the mercury mirror itself. His plan was to have craftsmen make a batch of wooden vanity cases once Cuihua Shop was up and running, embedding these small mirrors into them.

At this moment, he casually pulled one out and handed it to Lin Ning. This was much clearer than the brass mirror Lin Ning had chosen.

Lin Ning: “!!!”

He widened his eyes at the mercury mirror, astonished. He had never seen such a mirror before! Though the exterior was a bit rough…

Shen Qing rubbed his nose. “You can find a craftsman later to see if they can fit it into this handle. I bought it like this and haven’t had time to process it yet.”

But Lin Ning was not only shocked by the mirror itself. “You—you—you… You’re giving this to me?”

This little mirror didn’t look cheap at all! Covering the bill was one thing—it just showed Shen Qing’s wealth and generosity—but giving such an expensive gift directly to him? What did that mean?!

Who exactly do you like?! Lin Ning’s inner self was furiously biting a handkerchief in frustration. He was so conflicted, debating whether he should just ask outright. Village gers were straightforward and bold, unlike the more reserved city gers—there was nothing wrong with just asking!

But before he could open his mouth, a group of seven or eight people suddenly rushed out from Cuihua Shop. Leading them was none other than Miao Qiuduo, who pointed at Shen Qing and shouted, “He’s not really Young Master Shen! He’s a fake—just a village ger! He’s my sister’s biological ger son!”

Lin Ning was highly sensitive to the phrase “village ger.” He couldn’t help it—ever since his father entered officialdom, he and his mother and little uncle had to socialize with other officials’ families, and sometimes people mocked them behind their backs. He might tolerate it when he thought it himself, but others had no right to call him that!

He glared furiously in their direction, only to realize they weren’t talking about him.

Then who else could they mean? Suspicion filled his heart as he stiffly turned his head to look at the young master standing beside him.

Half of Shen Qing’s face was cast in shadow, making his expression unreadable. Another person stepped forward from beside Miao Qiuduo—it was one of the shop assistants from Cuihua Shop. He had come along with the shopkeeper to deliver a congratulatory gift when Shen Qing’s sausage shop first opened, but at the time, Shen Qing had only let Shopkeeper Xiao Miao receive them and hadn’t interacted with them directly.

“I thought you looked familiar,” the assistant sneered. “I was wondering why that tall ger never showed up in the county again. Who would have thought he disguised himself as a man and was pretending to be some ‘Young Master Shen’… Shen Ge’er, you’ve got guts!”

And who was this person? He was none other than the pawnshop assistant from the very first time Shen Qing had come to the county, trying to pawn off some silver jewelry. Later, on orders from the shop’s master, he had even tailed Shen Qing for a while.

Previously, the broker had told Shen Qing that the owner behind Cuihua Shop had some background and thus didn’t take him seriously as a landlord. It turned out that this shop was part of the same business network as that pawnshop.

The silver jewelry Shen Qing had pawned had indeed been sold at a good price in the prefectural city, but the shop had always wanted to track down that mysterious ger and find out where he had gotten the goods. Yet, they had never seen him again. Over time, the matter faded from memory—even for Shen Qing. When the assistant had come bearing gifts for the shop’s opening, he hadn’t recognized him.

It was Miao Qiuduo’s outburst that finally linked “Young Master Shen” to that ragged little ger from back then.

Shen Qing coldly surveyed the group that had emerged. Miao Qiuduo and her husband, the pawnshop assistant, the pawnshop master who had intimidated him before, the Cuihua Shopkeeper, and two unfamiliar men. Among them, only the pawnshop assistant was around his age—the rest were all in their forties or fifties. In modern times, that wasn’t a big deal, but here, they were practically elders.

The commotion was drawing attention. Nearby shops had people peeking out to watch. Gold-Tooth, who had been enjoying his fried sausages, looked utterly stunned. Ruyi and Mudan were equally dumbfounded, while Shopkeeper Xiao Miao and Tieshan immediately stepped forward to stand behind Shen Qing.

But Shen Qing looked completely unfazed. He cast a sideways glance at Shopkeeper Xiao Miao. “If you’re all out here, who’s watching the shop? Go back.” His eyes swept over Xiao Miao’s scholarly, delicate frame—was this weak scholar planning to protect him?

Shopkeeper Xiao Miao: …Do you have a conscience?

Shen Qing then exchanged a look with Ruyi, who immediately sprinted back to their residence. Meanwhile, Shen Qing rubbed his fingertips together, releasing a faint trickle of spiritual spring water that no one else could see. Using it, he slowly wiped away the concealer on his forehead, revealing the bright-colored ger mark that had been hidden.

Lin Ning and Zao Ge’er were both completely stunned.

Shen Qing smiled slightly at the group before him. “That’s right, I’m a ger. So what? Is that illegal? What the hell does it have to do with you?”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Ch 155: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But now, there was only a little left.

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

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

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

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

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

But Lian Ou shook his head.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Old Lady Lian nearly dropped her bowl in shock.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Old Lady Lian was this kind of person.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Power was truly intoxicating.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s when his work would truly be valuable.

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

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

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

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Ch 154: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Shen Qing had been staying in the apocalypse world for nearly a month. Estimating that the workshop in Shiqu Village was about to be completed and that his presence was needed to oversee things, he decided it was time to return.

Naturally, Song Kaiji was reluctant to see him go. However, just before his departure, something unexpected happened—they hadn’t gone looking for Chen Jiaxi, but she came to them instead.

“I’m not sure if you two are aware of this, but I need a favor from you.”

On a rainy night, Chen Jiaxi arrived at their doorstep wrapped in a long raincoat, looking like some kind of deranged serial killer.

She hadn’t contacted Shen Qing and Song Kaiji in a long time, as she was always extremely cautious. Clearly, this matter was important enough for her to take the risk of visiting them.

She had always kept her word and never pried into Shen Qing or his associates’ memories. The only information she had came from the memories of the director of the Third Farm. Because of this, she wasn’t certain if Shen Qing and Song Kaiji were already aware of the situation.

Shen Qing and Song Kaiji exchanged a glance. Shen Qing handed Chen Jiaxi a can of cola. “Tell us about it.”

They didn’t immediately agree, nor did they refuse—it all depended on the complexity of the task. As for potential rewards, Shen Qing wasn’t too concerned. After interacting with Chen Jiaxi several times, he had a decent grasp of her character. While their viewpoints often differed, she was someone who knew how to repay kindness and hated being indebted. Even if this particular favor wasn’t directly profitable, she would likely find a way to return the favor in the future.

Chen Jiaxi gently ran her fingers over the surface of the cola can. Only at Shen Qing’s place could such a rare luxury item be offered so casually. Even though she and her husband were doing quite well now, she wouldn’t dream of indulging in a cola just for herself.

But instead of saving the drink to bring home for her child, she popped it open and took a big gulp.

—If this deal went through, her child wouldn’t have to worry about cola in the future. A person needed to have the courage to spend as much as they earned!

“The military has now intervened in the research institute. They’ve recruited quite a few academics from the refugee camps, but the internal factions within the institute are deeply entrenched. Even though many people were demoted or removed, there are still old relationships tangled together, making it almost impossible for the newcomers to gain a foothold.”

She turned the can in her hands, choosing her words carefully. “I was thinking—if the military could obtain more leverage to completely uproot these people and expel them from the base, it would be much easier for them to take control of the research institute.”

Her intentions aligned perfectly with Shen Qing and Song Kaiji’s own interests. It seemed that intelligent people often thought along similar lines. However, Shen Qing still didn’t understand where they fit into all of this. He asked, “Are you hoping to use us to connect with Shao Nan?”

With her current status, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to proactively build ties with the military.

Chen Jiaxi shook her head. “Making connections isn’t the problem—the issue is obtaining the leverage needed to expose them.”

After laying the groundwork, she finally got to the point.

“Do you know that when the mutant willow tree incident happened—the one that caused Qu Weiwei to lose her hand—the Third Farm and the research institute covered it up? They never reported the accident. Because of that, the research institute’s funding wasn’t adjusted to cover the medical expenses, and they didn’t have the resources to regrow the limbs of all the injured wood-type ability users?”

Qu Weiwei, who had been absentmindedly nurturing a strawberry plant and popping berries into her mouth one by one, suddenly stood up.

Of course, they didn’t know!

At that time, whether it was Qu Weiwei, Song Kaiji, or even Shen Qing—who, despite his wealth, had no real connections in Red City Base—they had been at the very bottom of society. There was no way they could have known about the dealings of the upper echelons. Besides, given the nature of the apocalypse, even if the research institute had reported the incident, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they had still chosen to abandon some lower-level ability users.

And, as expected, reality wasn’t far off from that assumption.

An incident of that scale—there was no way the higher-ups didn’t know. But with limited funds and the high cost of treating the wounded, especially since healing-type ability users weren’t exactly cooperative—they wouldn’t work on credit, let alone for free—the institute had simply chosen to stay quiet. The officials had turned a blind eye, pretending they were unaware.

This issue could be swept under the rug if no one brought it up. But if the right people chose to make a fuss, it could turn into a major scandal.

Chen Jiaxi’s eyes gleamed. “The military only has two farms outside the base right now. But if we push this matter and manage to get the Third Farm under military control…”

This was a win-win situation!

Shen Qing and his group had already aligned themselves with the military and were eager to see them gain more power. At the same time, this would clear out the corruption within the research institute and give Qu Weiwei and the other injured wood-type ability users the justice they deserved.

And as for Chen Jiaxi…

“I want a portion of the management rights to the Third Farm. The military can appoint someone as the head of the farm, and my husband will take the deputy position.”

Her husband was currently a minor logistics leader in the city wall construction project. However, since that area was still under government control, the pay was inconsistent. When the wall was actively being built, there was plenty of profit to be made, but during slower periods, he only received a basic salary.

Chen Jiaxi wanted to bring her husband into her system so they could support each other more effectively. “But for this to work, we need Weiwei to step forward and formally report the incident to the military.”

Qu Weiwei: “I’ll do it! I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go!”

Qu Weiwei: “Screw the research institute! They didn’t even report it?! If it weren’t for Boss Shen, I’d be six feet under with weeds growing over my grave by now!”

She had never thought too deeply about the bureaucratic red tape before. But now that she was aware of it, recalling the helplessness and fear she had felt during the mutant willow attack, she was furious. “I’m reporting them!”

“Calm down. We need to plan this carefully.”

Shen Qing shot her a look, and Qu Weiwei immediately fell silent, sitting back down obediently, waiting for instructions.

“This is a great opportunity, but under normal circumstances, Weiwei wouldn’t have access to internal knowledge about the research institute’s cover-up. If she reports it, how do we explain where she got the information? Also, the research institute has been hunting for the so-called ‘mystery woman’—they’ve already been suspicious of Weiwei…”

“And what if they are?”

Chen Jiaxi chuckled.

These young ones, fresh out of school before the apocalypse, still didn’t understand the true nature of power.

Power meant that it didn’t matter what the truth was.

The most important thing was that whoever held power decided what was right. Whether the reasoning was solid or not didn’t matter—as long as the outcome served their interests, they could make anyone powerless to resist.

Shen Qing and his group had no reason to fear Qu Weiwei’s identity as the “mysterious woman” being exposed to the research institute at this point. So what if it was? The corrupt insiders at the research institute might be able to play petty tricks within their own circles, but if they dared to challenge actual power, they would be like eggs smashing against a rock.

In fact, Chen Jiaxi sneered maliciously, “Let them know full well that Weiwei is the mysterious woman. Let them realize the truth and yet be powerless, forced to watch as the very lower-class ability users they once treated like disposable trash rise up and personally drag them down into the depths of hell…”

Now that was satisfying, wasn’t it?

Qu Weiwei muttered under her breath, “…Who are you calling trash?”

“As long as you agree, you don’t need to worry about anything else. I’ll handle it. Weiwei just has to show up when the time comes to go through the motions.” These were professional matters—if an evolved brain wasn’t used at times like this, when would it be? “Of course, if Weiwei can find any of the other injured wood-type ability users from back then, that would be even better.”

But half a year had passed. Whether those injured wood-type ability users had even survived was uncertain. And even if they had, could disabled ability users with no means of labor afford to remain inside the base, paying rent? Or had they already been cast out into the refugee camps outside, lost among the countless desperate souls?

Qu Weiwei felt a pang of sadness. Meanwhile, Shen Qing was shaken by Chen Jiaxi’s understanding of power. He gave her a long, deep look and said, “Alright. We’ll work with you.”

Lantang Village, Lian Family.

Second Aunt Lian went straight to Old Lady Lian’s room upon returning home. No one knew what was said, but she stayed inside for a long time. When she finally emerged, there were tear stains on her cheeks, and Old Lady Lian remained unusually silent.

But after that day, Lian Ou no longer had to do household chores. Every day, he stayed in his room, soaking his hands morning and night, rubbing them, applying balm, and weaving butterflies. Other than meals, he barely left his room.

He was frugal. Shen Qing had said the jade threads were only a few cents per meter, but Lian Ou didn’t know that. To him, they were the most exquisite silk threads—he had never even seen real silkworm silk in his life.

So, he dismantled his woven butterflies, practicing over and over again. Only when he felt his technique had improved and the calluses on his hands had softened did he finally cut a fresh length of thread and start weaving a new butterfly.

This time, the threads frayed far less. The butterfly looked even and well-formed. Lian Ou felt an overwhelming sense of motivation—he realized the threads weren’t as delicate as he had feared. As long as his hands were free of rough patches and he was careful with his calluses, they wouldn’t damage the threads.

He felt he was close. Soon, he could start earning money for Shen Qing and repay him!

But while Lian Ou was thriving, Wang Shi from the Lian family’s main branch was on the verge of breaking down.

“Mother, why is it that only Second Brother’s family doesn’t have to do any chores? A day or two, fine, you took pity on the younger ones and let them celebrate, but why are we the only ones stuck with all the housework every single day? Mother, you can’t be this biased!”

She was panicking. It wasn’t just about the extra chores—it was the unknown that terrified her.

What had Miao Hexiang said to their mother-in-law to make her change her mind? If Miao Hexiang could pull this off once, could she keep doing it? Would she keep overshadowing Wang Shi?

And what was Ou Ge’er doing holed up in his room all day? He’d been like this ever since returning from Shen Qing’s house. That’s right—Shen Qing! It had to be his idea! He must be planning some benefit for Second Brother’s family!

How did Miao Hexiang always get so lucky?

She gave birth to a son earlier than Wang Shi, yet now, after years of suffering alongside their other married sisters, she had suddenly struck gold. And she was dragging Wang Shi along like deadweight, pulling ahead while leaving her in the dust.

Wang Shi had no capable sisters or promising nephews to rely on. She also knew that the long-standing tensions between her and Miao Shi weren’t something a few kind words could fix.

The only thing she could do was hold Miao Hexiang back. Hold her kids back. Everyone was a mud-legged farmer, scraping by in the dirt—so why should her family be the only ones who made it out?

If she couldn’t get ahead, she wouldn’t let anyone else pass her either!

Their mother-in-law, Old Lady Lian, had always leaned in her favor, forcing Second Brother’s family to contribute to the household funds. But now that Old Lady Lian had changed her stance, Wang Shi panicked.

“Mother, you can’t do this…”

She clutched Lian Bao and prepared to sit on the ground and wail, but Old Lady Lian’s next words shut her right up.

“When the workshop in Shiqu Village is finished, Qing Ge’er is going to build a school in the village. Is the child in your arms going or not?”

Wang Shi’s cries choked in her throat.

After a long silence, she muttered, “But isn’t the school being built for everyone? Just because of some household dispute, Qing Ge’er wouldn’t refuse to let my son study, would he? That would be too unfair…”

“So what if he is unfair? What are you going to do about it? Go argue fairness with the living King of Hell? It’s his school, his rules. He even beat up his own father—what are you to him?”

Wang Shi was left speechless by Old Lady Lian’s harsh words.

Frustrated and humiliated, she finally cried out, “But that doesn’t mean our branch of the family should be trampled on! Why do we have to do all the housework? This is bullying! How can I hold my head up in front of others?”

She covered her face and sobbed, repeating the same complaints over and over. But Old Lady Lian was already out of patience.

She had been reluctant to give in to Second Brother’s wife’s pleas earlier, but now that she had, she felt a slight sense of being controlled, which made her uncomfortable. So, she responded coldly:

“In a household, it’s either the east wind suppressing the west, or the west wind suppressing the east. Second son’s family, with Qing Ge’er backing them, is no longer something we can keep down.

Second son’s wife told me that if their family is forced to do chores, she and Yu Ge’er will quit working at the workshop. They’ll stay home and take over the housework, and we’ll all just sit and watch as other families thrive while we alone struggle in poverty.”

She didn’t explain what Lian Ou was up to—just gave Wang Shi a pitiful yet disappointed look.

“If you had any sense, you’d start sending Ye Ge’er to spend time with Ou Ge’er, ask him to teach your boy a thing or two. Adult conflicts shouldn’t involve the children.

“But if you insist on butting heads with Second son’s family, I can’t guarantee how things will turn out for you in the future.”

With that, she turned and left, leaving Wang Shi slumped on the ground, full of grievances but with no one to listen. No one cared about her complaints.

She could only sob, “There’s no justice anymore… How is this fair? What gives her the right…”

Lian Rong peeked out the window, watching for a while before running back, grinning as she whispered to Lian Ou, “Big Auntie is crying—crying her heart out! I’ve seen her fake-cry plenty of times, but never like this.”

She had finally broken down.

Lian Ou, still focused on his jade threads, merely hummed absentmindedly.

For some reason, now that he had meaningful work, the way Wang Shi used to make him anxious with a single glance or a single “tsk” suddenly didn’t matter anymore.

What did it matter what she was up to?

Lian Rong had been to the village’s starch sausage workshop and had seen the workers laboring there. It was tough work that required considerable strength, and even in the chilly early spring, they would be sweating by the end of the day. How could that compare to her second brother sitting inside and working without breaking a sweat?

Lian Ou hesitated for a moment. He wanted to say that not just anyone could do this kind of work—Lian Rong’s hands were as clumsy as chicken claws… But he didn’t want to discourage her enthusiasm, so he simply nodded. “Go ahead and take it. Just make sure to put it back where you found it when you’re done. Don’t mess up my things.”

Qing Ge’er was so capable. Even if she couldn’t weave threads properly after taking care of her hands, surely she could find something else to do?

At that moment, Lian Ou was no longer weaving butterflies. He was crafting a lifelike little goldfish, its large tail fanning out like a blooming lotus. He had been working on this piece for two days, putting more care and detail into it than ever before, hoping to show it to Qing Ge’er when he returned.

After finishing the goldfish, Lian Ou moved on to making a small rabbit and a tiny rat. He even attempted to weave the head of the big orange cat that Madam Guixiang kept, though the lack of the right colors made it look a bit strange.

Just as he was about to unravel it and try another design, he heard Lian Rong come fluttering back home like a little swallow, shouting excitedly, “Brother! Qing Ge’er is back! He’s calling for you!”

Hearing this, Lian Ou quickly wrapped his completed pieces in a handkerchief and tucked them into his chest. He rolled up the leftover materials and stuffed them under his mattress, pressing them down with the bedding before hurrying toward Shen Qing’s house.

Shen Qing was crouching in the yard, playing with the two puppies he had just adopted. Miao Yu stood beside him, chattering away with an envious look in his eyes. “These pups came from the best dog in my grandma’s village! That dog once scared off a wolf! When they grow up, they’ll definitely be just as fierce!”

He had always wanted to raise a dog. Like most boys his age, he admired anything related to strength and power. Unfortunately, his family had struggled in the past, barely affording enough food for themselves, let alone a dog. Now, seeing Shen Qing raising puppies, he couldn’t help but feel envious. “Ge, can I take them out on patrol sometimes?”

“No.” Shen Qing rejected him outright. These pups were still young, the perfect age to build bonds and recognize their owner. If he let Miao Yu take them out every day, wouldn’t they end up recognizing Miao Yu as their master instead? Then his family would be feeding them for nothing!

But when he saw Miao Yu’s crestfallen face, Shen Qing couldn’t help but chuckle. “Once they’re grown, if one of them is willing, you can take it out. But I need at least one to stay here and guard the house.” He had gotten these dogs precisely for that reason!

Miao Yu perked up immediately, excitedly watching the puppies and itching to play with them.

The two-month-old pups had been chosen because they were particularly attached to Miao Shi. Apparently, one of them had rushed toward her the moment it saw her, its tail wagging so fast it became a blur. The other one did the same—no matter who was standing next to Miao Shi, it only had eyes for her. Miao Shi couldn’t bear to part with either of them, so she simply brought both home.

Now, the two puppies curled up warily in their nest, eyeing Shen Qing with caution. He extended a finger for them to sniff. Perhaps detecting a scent similar to Miao Shi’s, one of them hesitated for a moment before cautiously licking his fingertip.

“What tiny little dogs!” Lian Rong exclaimed as she entered the yard, utterly captivated by them. She rushed over, full of admiration but lacking the words to describe them.

However, the puppies didn’t give her the same courtesy they had given Shen Qing. The moment she got close, they started barking fiercely.

Lian Rong looked heartbroken. “Wuu wuu wuu, they’re so mean!” They looked so cute but were so aggressive!

Shen Qing, on the other hand, laughed. “That’s exactly how a good guard dog should be! If they wagged their tails at everyone, what’s the point?”

He liked dogs that wagged their tails for him and him alone.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Ch 153: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Lian Ou’s hands were indeed covered with calluses and rough patches. Although Second Aunt Lian was already one of the most loving and protective mothers in the village, a young ger in the countryside couldn’t avoid doing household chores like cooking, washing dishes, and feeding the chickens. Especially now that most of the second branch of the Lian family was working in the workshop, all the housework had fallen onto Lian Ou’s shoulders.

He carefully wove the thread, yet the smooth jade cord still ended up getting caught on his rough fingers, pulling out tiny strands of silk. Each time this happened, he would panic and glance at Shen Qing, only to find Shen Qing smiling at him encouragingly. With that reassurance, his nervous heart slowly settled.

Soon, he finished weaving a palm-sized butterfly. Aside from the frayed threads, the structure of the butterfly was tight and symmetrical. He didn’t even need anything to hold the threads in place—his ten fingers fluttered like orchids in midair, and a delicate butterfly with its wings outstretched, ready to take flight, was formed.

A butterfly woven from grass strands might look simple and rustic, carrying a sense of natural charm. But when woven with jade silk, it transformed into something exquisite. It wasn’t entirely lifelike, yet Lian Ou had an innate sense of design. Without anyone teaching him, he instinctively knew how to pair the two colored threads together. The four layers of butterfly wings alternated between pink and purple, and from a slight distance, if one overlooked the few frayed threads, it looked even more elegant than the decorative knots that wealthy families in the county paired with their jade pendants.

Shen Qing handed him two more pieces of string and had him thread the butterfly onto them, turning it into a hairband, which he then tied onto Lian Rong’s little bun. The peach blossom ronghua and the woven butterfly complemented each other perfectly. Lian Rong admired herself in the mirror from different angles, delighted beyond words, afraid to even move her head too much lest she ruin the look.

“I never expected my Ou Ge’er to have such a skill,” Second Aunt Lian exclaimed in astonishment. She held Lian Ou’s hands, turning them over to inspect them, before sighing with a pang of guilt. “If it weren’t for Qing Ge’er noticing from just a grass butterfly, my son’s talent would have been completely wasted! Such nimble hands, yet they’re covered in calluses!”

If their family had been wealthier, if they had been able to send Lian Ou to learn embroidery or sewing from a young age, he would have been remarkable by now.

Shen Qing believed that many people had unique talents and strengths, yet they remained undiscovered. Some people didn’t even realize their own potential, and for children from poor families, there were even fewer opportunities to explore, test, or develop their skills.

He handed Lian Ou the remaining two rolls of jade thread and went inside for a moment. When he returned, he carried a few more colors of thread, two small porcelain jars filled with hand cream, and a pumice stone. He handed everything to Lian Ou and instructed, “When you get home, soak your hands in warm water. Once the skin softens, use this stone to gently rub away the rough patches and calluses, then apply this balm. You can use more before bed. During the day, try to avoid doing tasks like washing dishes and clothes, but if you do, make sure to apply the balm afterward. Use these threads to practice and experiment with different patterns. When I return from my trade trip, I’ll bring back more designs for you to learn.”

Lian Ou carefully held the items, treasuring them as if they were the most precious things he had ever received. His heart swelled with emotion, and he didn’t know what to say. The cream in the porcelain jars was white and fragrant, even richer than what he used to moisturize his face. A whole large jar—it must be worth a lot!

He hadn’t even earned a single wen for Shen Qing yet, but Shen Qing was already willing to give him such valuable things. Clutching the silk thread and balm tightly, Lian Ou silently vowed to practice diligently and repay Shen Qing well in the future!

“I’ll have a good talk with my mother-in-law when I get back. Why is it that our second branch hands over all our earnings from working outside to the public fund, yet we still have to share the household chores? Doesn’t the first branch also spend that public money? They want to take advantage of everything!” Second Aunt Lian gritted her teeth, as if making up her mind. “If my mother-in-law doesn’t agree, then Yu and I will quit our jobs at the workshop and stay home to do the chores for Ou. Since we can’t keep any of the money anyway, we might as well all be poor together!”

The matter of Shen Zhiwei was like a stone thrown into a pond. On the surface, it didn’t cause much of a stir, but in reality, it sent ripples everywhere. Parents were now wary, fearing they might push their children into becoming another Shen Zhiwei. Meanwhile, those children who were less favored began to reflect, afraid of ending up in his position—having to sell off their daughters to support their more favored siblings. Testing boundaries, making concessions, and striving for change—across countless small households in the village, these quiet struggles unfolded.

After settling everything on his end, Shen Qing arranged for Miao Shi to stay in Shiqu Village for a while. Now that Miao Qiuduo had left, she could supervise the construction of the fried noodle workshop there and also pick out a puppy.

As for himself, he returned to the apocalypse. By his count, it had been five or six days since he’d stayed there overnight—he could only imagine how sulky Song Kaiji must be by now.

However, as he approached the base, he spotted a massive metal cage slowly moving near the entrance from a distance. His first instinct was that it must be Song Kaiji and his crew. He was slightly puzzled as to why they had taken out a cage right at the city gate, but he didn’t think too much about it.

Excitedly, he ran over, only to discover that the people there were complete strangers. The cage wasn’t being controlled by a metal-ability user but was a pre-built structure with a door. In the center of the cage, a horizontal bar allowed people inside to push it forward without worrying about zombies reaching them. The cage was also equipped with universal wheels.

The reason it was moving slowly was that a group had tied it to the back of a car, dragging it away at a steady pace.

Shen Qing: ?

As the vehicle drove off, he saw yet another cage with the same universal wheels being pushed out. In just ten minutes at the city gate, he spotted three or four of these. It seemed like this type of cage had become quite common.

He walked straight into the base. The shop the military had assigned him had already opened, though, since it was broad daylight, most ability users who could afford to shop were out hunting zombies. Only a few scattered customers browsed the store. Watching over the shop were Yu Le, Zhang Sujuan, and two unfamiliar young women—likely hired by Yu Le or relatives of external ability users.

Seeing Shen Qing return, they were all delighted. “Qingqing, you’re finally back! My son’s been sulking for days, frowning all the time,” Zhang Sujuan teased.

Feeling a little guilty, Shen Qing smiled at her. “I got caught up in some things. I’ll be staying longer this time to keep him company.”

Zhang Sujuan, who had been managing the store, looked noticeably more energetic. Ever since she lost her husband and injured her leg, she’d fallen into a slump, rarely stepping outside. But now, sitting in the shop and handling money all day, with crystal cores flowing through her hands, her bad mood had been largely swept away by the power of wealth. She chuckled and said, “Go on home, he’s lying there waiting for you.”

“Not on a mission today?” Shen Qing was curious. Previously, Song Kaiji always led his team out during the day. Just then, another team passed by, pushing a cage similar to the ones he had seen earlier. Shen Qing asked, “What’s with these things?”

“We haven’t gone on a mission for three days. Tang ge and Weiwei jie are both away,” Yu Le explained. “Only Bingbing jie occasionally takes some external teams out. That cage? The military invited Tang ge over to help design it.”

Because of the seeds provided by Shen Qing’s team, things on the surface of the base seemed calm, but in reality, power dynamics had shifted. The military, despite opposition, had started constructing two farms outside the base walls. These farms weren’t protected by the city’s defenses, making them vulnerable to zombie attacks.

However, the military had plenty of soldiers. During the day, off-duty personnel surrounded the farms, eliminating any wandering zombies. Inside the protective ring, wood-ability users accelerated crop growth, and once harvested, space-ability users immediately stored the produce. The farms’ proximity to the base meant few zombies strayed over, and the guards didn’t have much work to do. Of course, this was only a temporary solution.

“I heard the military is now recruiting those who can’t afford entry fees to build walls around the farms,” Yu Le whispered. “They have enough metal-ability users among them to make brick production easy. Once they secure the farms, it won’t take long before they outpace the base officials in food control. And with so many refugees stuck outside the base, do you really think they’ll stop after just building walls around the farms?”

Red City was on the verge of a major shift.

“They brought Tang ge in to teach their metal-ability users, and then they realized this method wasn’t just for metal users. So they started mass-producing these ready-made cages and renting them out to ability-user teams. As long as a team has at least one wood-ability user, they can use vines to hold off zombies long enough to extract crystal cores. That’s why Weiwei jie was called in too—to train wood-ability users. Since most of our team is busy, we haven’t gone on any missions ourselves.”

Some weaker teams came up with even safer strategies—renting larger cages, using vines to trap zombies momentarily, then dragging them into the cage to slowly extract crystal cores while safely inside. One way or another, people always found solutions. The security of the iron cage tactic significantly lowered casualty rates, even encouraging some of the base’s ordinary survivors to start hunting zombies.

“This method has been a game changer. The base’s death rate has dropped drastically. The leadership is even considering using it to trade with other bases for supplies. Human survival has just taken a huge leap forward,” Yu Le continued. “As compensation—well, and also as a patent fee—the military gave us another store. It’s right over there.” She pointed diagonally across the street. “They just handed it over yesterday. Uncle Ge has already started renovations, but we haven’t decided what to sell yet. Song ge said to wait for you to decide. Since not every team has a space-ability user, they can only push these cages manually or tie them to vehicles for towing. But I heard the military is now working with researchers to install batteries underneath, turning them into something like an automated tour bus for a zoo. That’ll make it even more convenient.”

Shen Qing only half-understood, but he still marveled at how many smart people existed in this world. Reading books really did pay off.

After chatting briefly with Yu Le and Zhang Sujuan, he went to check out the new shop. It was significantly larger than the first one the military had given them. Shen Qing silently noted that the ongoing power struggle between the military and the base officials must have cost the latter quite a bit.

Back at the villa, Song Kaiji was rolling around in bed in utter boredom. “Day six without Qingqing… day six of being abandoned… day six of guarding an empty house… wuwuwu.”

Standing outside the bedroom door, Shen Qing couldn’t help but chuckle. “Let me see—who’s the one that’s been abandoned?”

“Ahhhh, Qingqing!” Song Kaiji immediately lunged forward, hugging Shen Qing tightly. “You’re finally back! Why did you leave for so long this time?”

“There was some trouble at home.” Shen Qing recounted Shen Zhiwei’s situation in a neutral tone. “My mother is holding up well, but I know she’s struggling inside, so I stayed a few extra days to keep her company.”

That was also why he had thrown himself into helping Lian Ou so eagerly. Aside from the unspoken ger-helping-ger instinct, he wanted to distract Miao Shi and give her something else to focus on. No doubt in the coming days, she would be constantly checking on how Lian Ou’s hands were healing.

Listening to all this, Song Kaiji was wide-eyed. Sure, he had an uncle who coveted his family’s assets, but that was just empty talk and manipulation. Murdering kin? The feudal era was terrifying. Hugging Shen Qing tighter, he whispered, “And what about you?”

“Are you sad?”

Shen Qing fell silent.

Ever since the truth came to light, he had maintained his composure. In fact, he had felt more anger than sorrow. But deep inside, Shen Qing was conflicted.

Shen Zhang had been a wonderful younger brother. It wasn’t surprising that Old Man Shen and Old Lady Shen had favored him far more than Shen Zhuang—Shen Zhang truly had the personality of an angel. He was sweet, considerate, but not in a cunning way. He would save treats given to him by Old Lady Shen and share them with Shen Qing and Miao Shi without taking a bite himself. He would feel sorry for Shen Zhigao, rushing over with Miao Shi’s handkerchief to wipe his father’s sweat after he returned from the fields. When Old Lady Shen scolded Shen Qing, he would softly coax her into laughter before secretly signaling for Shen Qing to run away.

For a child of only five or six, he had already been so clever, so thoughtful. But Shen Qing knew—if Shen Zhang had lived, he himself likely would not have turned out the way he was now.

He would have doted on Shen Zhang, that much he was sure of. Shen Zhang had treated him with nothing but kindness. He had no doubt that Shen Zhang would have grown into a reliable younger brother—after all, even as a child, he had protected Shen Qing in his own way.

If Shen Zhang had lived, perhaps Shen Qing would have grown up like the other typical ger in the village—relying on his younger brother for protection instead of carving out his own path with his fists. In fact, he hadn’t started fighting until after Shen Zhang died.

Most of his convictions were shaped by his struggles after Shen Zhang’s death. If his brother had survived, perhaps even Shen Zhigao wouldn’t have changed. Maybe they would have remained a typical, happy family in the village. Maybe he would have grown up to be like Lian Ou…

But if he had been like Lian Ou, who would have been there to pull him up? Would he have even realized he needed someone to?

Of course, Shen Qing didn’t wish for Shen Zhang’s death. But at the same time, he was grateful to have grown into the person he was today. Watching Miao Shi’s pain over the past few days, he couldn’t help but wonder—after all his efforts to provide his mother with a better life, would she prefer this version of him? Or would she rather have the past, where Shen Zhang was still alive?

That thought terrified him. He constantly wavered between guilt over Shen Zhang and firm belief in the choices he had made. There was no one in this world he could confide in about such thoughts. Even now, speaking to Song Kaiji, he was afraid. Afraid that Song Kaiji would see him as heartless, as selfish.

But Song Kaiji only held him tighter. “Don’t overthink it. Don’t let your thoughts spiral. Shen Zhang’s death wasn’t your fault—it was Shen Zhiwei’s. It was Old Man Shen and Old Lady Shen’s favoritism that caused it… If you have to blame something, then blame the generations of selfishness in that family, which finally brought retribution upon their grandson.”

Shen Qing was just another victim of that karma. He had suffered years of hardship in that household.

“It wasn’t your doing, so there’s no reason for you to feel guilty over choices you never had to make,” Song Kaiji continued. “On the contrary, you became who you are today. You earned power and influence in the village, which allowed you to avenge Shen Zhang. Otherwise, with your village chief being the way he is, wouldn’t he have just brushed everything under the rug again? If Shen Zhang’s spirit still lingers, he would be grateful to you. He would be proud of you.”

“Besides, Qingqing, you’re too smart. Even if your brother had survived, I don’t believe you would have grown up oblivious to everything. You would have realized sooner or later that a ger is no less than a man. Maybe your brother would have supported you—he loved you that much. He would have wanted you to be the best version of yourself.”

Song Kaiji gently ran his fingers through Shen Qing’s hair. “You’ve never been in the wrong. You’ve always done your best. The one who should feel guilty has never been you… You don’t need to blame yourself.”

Shen Qing buried himself in Song Kaiji’s embrace and finally let out a low, stifled sob. This was the first time he had cried since learning the truth about Shen Zhang’s death—both for Shen Zhang and for his own release.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm light over the bed, dissolving the shadows that had lingered deep in Shen Qing’s heart.

This time, Shen Qing stayed in the apocalypse for a long while, only returning to the village once a week to check on the progress of the Shiqu Village workshop.

He needed to soak in more of modern civilization, to ease his mind.

As for the second shop, he hadn’t yet decided what to do with it, so he had two people run it as a general store for now. They displayed random scavenged goods and continued collecting valuables—gold, silver, antiques, jade, and books. However, business was much slower. With the government hoarding gold and prices rising, most people chose to trade with officials. There were even rumors of the government starting to collect silver, since it was needed for machine parts, meaning silver prices would soon increase as well.

“People are broke now. Nothing sells well except food,” Song Kaiji remarked. “But we already have a food shop, so we don’t need to open another. This place… well, maybe we’ll stumble upon something valuable.”

That reminded Shen Qing. “I remember we raided a bookstore before. There were some books on decorative knot tying—help me find them.”

“Knot tying? You mean… coding?” Song Kaiji looked utterly confused. Was Qingqing advancing so fast that he was learning programming now?

Shen Qing gestured dramatically before Song Kaiji finally understood. “Oh! You mean The Complete Guide to Chinese Knots?” He rummaged through his storage space. There were actually quite a few similar books, so he pulled them all out. In addition to the knot tying guide, there were books on crochet and knitting.

“That’s the one!” Shen Qing was thrilled. He could copy some of the patterns for Lian Ou to practice. He had so many jade pendants and trinkets, but they always felt a bit plain. Adding a decorative knot and a delicate box would instantly elevate their value.

Song Kaiji rested his chin on his hand, listening to Shen Qing talk about Lian Ou and the village’s latest happenings. He felt warm inside, yet also a little envious.

He wished he could fully integrate into Shen Qing’s life. The people, the stories—some endearing, some infuriating—were all things he only knew secondhand through Shen Qing’s words. He couldn’t experience them himself, couldn’t stand by Shen Qing’s side as they unfolded.

Suddenly, he leaned in and kissed Shen Qing on the cheek.

Shen Qing blushed, glancing around. “What are you doing? We’re outside.” He hesitated before adding, “If you want to… wait until we’re home.”

Song Kaiji laughed. He adored how Shen Qing could say such bold things with such an earnest expression. Hugging him tightly, he murmured, “No, I just want to hug and kiss you. Nothing else. I just want to be with you longer.”

As they were lost in their own world, a few people passing by scoffed in annoyance.

Shen Qing: ?

Wasn’t modern society supposed to be open-minded? People kissed openly on the streets all the time. They had only shared a quick kiss and a hug—why the judgmental stares?

“Ignore them,” Song Kaiji scoffed back at the retreating figures. They glared at him but didn’t say anything before walking off. “Those are some research institute guys who got demoted. They probably know the seed situation had something to do with us and are still bitter. I’ll remember their faces and let Chen Jiaxi know—she’ll make their lives miserable.”

“Don’t go looking for her too much. She’s careful about maintaining distance,” Shen Qing warned.

“Don’t worry, I just teleport into her bedroom.” Song Kaiji grinned proudly. “I’m super strong now—I can even teleport with people!” Though… so far, the only one he had managed to carry along was Ge Bingbing’s daughter, Nannan.

When Shen Qing wasn’t around, Song Kaiji had nothing better to do, so he spent his free time practicing his teleportation. Once he was able to teleport with a refrigerator, he decided to test it out with Nannan. He had to sweet-talk her a lot and bribe her with snacks before she finally agreed to be his test subject. Fortunately, his failed attempts only resulted in the child dropping to the ground without any serious harm, which was the only reason Ge Bingbing allowed him to continue.

However, teleporting an object and teleporting a living person were two completely different challenges. Nannan was smaller and much lighter than a refrigerator. After managing to teleport an entire fridge, Song Kaiji had assumed carrying Nannan would be no issue—but to his surprise, he failed. Through multiple attempts, he eventually realized that he needed to be able to teleport something at least three times the size and weight of a person before he could successfully transport a living being.

“Next time, I’ll try it with Yu Le,” he mused. Among their team members, Yu Le was the smallest girl.

Shen Qing: …

You’re casually teleporting into people’s bedrooms—aren’t you worried about interfering with their married life?

He wanted to say something but stopped himself.

“Let’s not cause trouble for Jiaxi. From now on, let’s just act like we don’t know her. Or better yet, wait for an opportunity for Shao Nan to formally introduce us—that way, we’ll have a legitimate reason to interact,” Shen Qing suggested.

Now that the military had intervened in the research institute, it was no longer entirely under the government’s control. Shen Qing thought of how Gold-Tooth had facilitated connections between him, Clerk Yang, and the Chief Registrar to form a mutually beneficial alliance in the other world. Perhaps they could create something similar here in the apocalypse.

They could act as intermediaries—Shao Nan could help Chen Jiaxi rise in power within the research institute, Jiaxi could provide the military with advantages that aligned the institute with them, and Shen Qing could source rare supplies from the other world whenever needed. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, one worth pursuing.

When that happened, what would those people who scoffed and rolled their eyes at them amount to? Getting demoted was hardly a punishment. Who knew how many awful things they had done? Eventually, they would be driven out of the research institute entirely. Only when they were forced to struggle for survival like ordinary people in the apocalypse would they finally realize just how outrageous their past actions had been.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Thandar: I feel like ML’s teleportation ability would somehow play into him being able to enter the cave 🤔

Ch 152: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

People who don’t know you will fear you, but those who do just want to make wishes to the King of Hell.

Ever since Shen Qing had beaten Shen Zhigao, he’d felt an inexplicable sense of liberation, as if some heavy chains had been removed from him, making him feel lighter and more at ease. But after all, he wasn’t really the King of Hell, so he quickly waved his hands at Lian Rong’s wish. “Even though your aunt is indeed not a good person, she doesn’t deserve death, does she? Punishment should match the severity of the crime—otherwise, what would that make me?”

Shen Qing even started to wonder if he had somehow become a strange role model for the village’s gers and girls, seeing how Lian Rong was casually talking about life-and-death matters.

“That’s true,” Lian Rong sighed deeply, then glanced at Shen Qing again. “Then what are you? You’re the Living King of Hell.”

Shen Qing: “…I’m not. Stop saying that.”

He examined the grass-woven butterfly in his hand, despite it being flattened underfoot, and after a moment of thought, a mischievous smile appeared on his face. “But I can help you get a little revenge, consider it fulfilling your birthday wish.”

Though Lian Rong’s actual wish was to have Wang Shi “taken away,” Shen Qing’s plan had nothing to do with that.

Wang Shi always targeted Second Aunt Lian out of jealousy. Since she was someone so easily provoked by envy, why not let her stew in it even more?

Lian Rong looked at him, half-understanding, as Shen Qing took her small hand and led her into Miao Shi’s room.

Nowadays, Miao Shi’s room already had the feel of a wealthy wife’s quarters, yet it still retained a rustic countryside charm. A newly crafted wooden cabinet stood by the heated brick bed, filled with fresh bedding and an abundance of new clothes.

The windows were covered with thick, snow-white paper, allowing light to filter in, making the room bright and clean.

Against the wall stood a large wooden dressing table, with a copper mirror the size of a washbasin at the center, adorned with delicate engravings. To the left of the mirror was a stack of jewelry boxes, and inside the first box was a small, round silver-backed mirror. To the right, there were an array of small bottles and jars—some for face cream, some for hair oil. Nearby were two combs with different tooth gaps.

Lian Rong curiously took in everything on the table. Her home didn’t even have a simple brass mirror; if she wanted to see her reflection, she could only look into the water.

Shen Qing pressed her down onto the stool in front of the vanity, looked at her two tightly bound bun-shaped pigtails, and, after considering his own lack of hairstyling skills, decided not to undo them. Instead, he rummaged through the jewelry box and pulled out two hair ribbons, holding them up on either side of her head to measure.

Miao Shi and Second Aunt Lian were sitting on the heated bed, chatting. Seeing Shen Qing’s actions, they found it amusing. “What are you doing?”

“Today is Rong Jie’er’s birthday. These two hair ribbons—when I bought them, didn’t you say the colors were too bright and you didn’t like them? Might as well give them to Rong Jie’er as a birthday present.” The two ribbons in Shen Qing’s hands were ones he had casually picked up at the neighboring shop. They were made of finely woven silk in three colors—peach pink, soft blush, and pale yellow—with small dangling beads of unknown material, also in delicate pink hues.

Miao Shi had found them too flashy and youthful at the time, feeling they were more suited for little girls rather than herself. No matter how much Shen Qing insisted she was still young, she had never worn them.

Now that he was giving them to Lian Rong, Miao Shi naturally agreed, even scolding Second Aunt Lian lightly, “Rong Jie’er’s birthday? Why didn’t you say something?”

“She’s just a little kid. What’s the fuss about birthdays?” Second Aunt Lian waved it off. “And sending her a birthday gift? We already come to your house all the time, eating and taking things—I’m embarrassed as it is!”

“You helped me out when I was struggling before. Now that I’m doing better, what’s a little gift for the child?” Miao Shi said while taking over from Shen Qing, loosening Lian Rong’s hair and smoothing it down with some scented oil, making it shine. All the stray hairs were neatly tucked away, leaving her looking polished and tidy.

“For a little girl, you sure have nimble fingers!” Second Aunt Lian remarked.

“I never had the chance to doll up Qing Ge’er when he was little—he never liked dressing up or wearing anything decorative. Now, I finally get to put my skills to use!” Miao Shi laughed, feeling immensely satisfied as she arranged Lian Rong’s hair into two symmetrical four-petal flower buns, tying the hair ribbons in the center into butterfly knots. The effect was stunning—like two delicate flower buds resting atop her head.

Seeing how adorable Lian Rong looked after the makeover, Miao Shi felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment. “Qing Ge’er never let me dress him up like this—he always wanted to look like a little adult. Finally, I get to practice!”

Since uncovering the truth about Shen Zhang’s death, Miao Shi had been visibly downcast for days. Now, with something to focus on, she seemed to have a bit more energy, which made Shen Qing happy. He excused himself to his room but actually retrieved a box of velvet flower hairpins from his storage space.

These were custom-made by artisans he had hired in the post-apocalyptic world—delicately crafted, with a variety of designs. Miao Shi picked a peach blossom and a tiny velvet peach, which perfectly matched the ribbons. She placed them symmetrically on Lian Rong’s two flower buns, making the already cute little girl look even more like a porcelain doll.

“Oh my heavens, this must be expensive! She can’t possibly wear something so valuable!” Second Aunt Lian waved her hands frantically. The ribbons were one thing, but these hairpins were obviously exquisite. Back when she was a young maiden, she had bought some cheap decorative hairpieces at the market, but none compared to what Shen Qing had just taken out. She immediately reached out to remove them. “She’s just a child—how could she wear something this fancy?”

But Lian Rong quickly ducked behind Miao Shi, clutching her new hair accessories. “I like them! I’ll only wear them for two days, I swear! I’ll even work for Qing Ge’er to pay for them!”

Shen Qing laughed. “What kind of work could you do for me?” He then glanced at the trampled grass butterfly. “But, go call Ou Ge’er over. Have lunch at my place today—I’ll make you that full egg feast.”

Lian Rong, however, grimaced at the mention of eggs. “I don’t want to eat eggs anymore—I want meat! I want the sausages from our workshop!”

“What’s this ‘full egg feast’ about?” Miao Shi and Second Aunt Lian still weren’t sure what the two were scheming. But seeing Lian Rong, now dressed up and no longer upset, Second Aunt Lian let go of her frustration over what had happened.

Then Lian Rong finally explained how her birthday eggs had been taken by Wang Shi and given to Lian Bao, and how her grass butterfly had been stomped.

Miao Shi and Second Aunt Lian finally understood why Shen Qing had suddenly taken it upon himself to dress up Lian Rong—it was to cheer her up.

Now that Lian Rong had stopped crying and seemed happy again, Second Aunt Lian sighed. “Forget it, let’s not bother with that foolish woman anymore.”

After all, their second branch of the family was doing better and better with Shen Qing’s support. Even though their earnings had to be handed over to the shared family fund, Miao Shi still found ways to give little gifts—whether it was fabric, shoes, or a good meal for the kids. In both appearance and lifestyle, their household was already pulling ahead of the eldest branch. No wonder Wang Shi was jealous.

But Second Aunt Lian had made peace with it. “She can be envious all she wants. We’re doing well, and that’s enough.”

Even if they had to pool their earnings now, the bond with Miao Shi and Shen Qing was something Wang Shi could never take away. When the time came for the family to split, they would still have each other’s backs, and Shen Qing would always be there to support their children.

And over on Wang Shi’s side—who would keep sending them money after the family split? So what if she had another son to dote on like a treasure? In the end, their household would never catch up to Second Aunt Lian’s.

The only question was when the family would finally divide. Second Aunt Lian sighed and whispered with Miao Shi again. The village custom was that families could only split after the elders passed away. She wasn’t heartless enough to wish for her in-laws’ early demise, but she truly wanted to separate as soon as possible. “If only we could split the family now. We’re even willing to take care of the in-laws. Even if the eldest branch gets nothing, it’s fine with us.”

She had lost count of how many times she’d sighed over this.

Meanwhile, Lian Rong, with the silk ribbons and velvet peach blossoms gifted by Shen Qing, flaunted her new look all around the village. She basked in the envy of all the young girls and gers before leisurely making her way back home. When she left, she was just an ordinary country girl; when she returned, she looked as bright and fresh as a noble lady. It was impossible not to attract attention—everyone in the house stared at her adorned head.

Just as Shen Qing had predicted, Wang Shi was inwardly burning with jealousy. Lian Rong was already adorable, but now, dressed up like a young lady from a rich family, she was even harder for Wang Shi to tolerate. She instinctively wanted to drag Lian Rong back down to earth. With a twisted smile, she reached out to touch Lian Rong’s head. “Oh my, what’s this on your head, Rong Jie’er? Looks so fancy. You must be doing well, huh? Your mother must be rolling in money from the workshop to afford such expensive hair accessories for you.”

The implication was clear—she was accusing Second Aunt Lian of hiding private savings.

Lian Rong, having just experienced the grass butterfly incident, was already on guard against Wang Shi. She quickly ducked away, covered her head, and ran behind Old Lady Lian. “This wasn’t bought by my mother. Qing Ge’er saw my woven butterfly got ruined and pitied me for not even getting a bowl of birthday eggs, so he lent me these to wear. My own things are one thing, but if Big Aunt accidentally breaks these too, she won’t be able to afford to compensate Qing Ge’er!”

Lian Rong took the opportunity to tattle on Wang Shi to Old Lady Lian, then poked her head out to add, “Grandma, Qing Ge’er said he’s making me a full egg feast and told me to bring my second brother along to eat. When I come back, I’ll bring you some delicious pastries!”

Old Lady Lian glanced at Wang Shi’s darkened face with displeasure. How could anything in this house escape her notice? As the Second Branch thrived, the conflicts with the First Branch only intensified, giving her constant headaches. She knew Wang Shi had taken out her frustrations on Lian Rong today but couldn’t be bothered to reprimand her. If she scolded Wang Shi, it would only stir up more trouble. She was simply exhausted from it all.

After all, it was just a child. How big a deal could a little grievance be?

But she hadn’t expected Qing Ge’er to stand up for Lian Rong. Knowing that today was Lian Rong’s birthday and that she had been wronged, Old Lady Lian simply said, “Go on then, no need to bring anything back for me. You’re lucky to have Qing Ge’er looking out for you, but don’t overdo it. If you keep eating and taking from them all the time, people will get annoyed.” She then turned to Lian Ou. “Ou Ge’er, you go too.”

Wang Shi bit her lip. “Mother, it’s almost noon. If Ou Ge’er leaves, who’s going to do the chores for the Second Branch? We can’t be expected to do everything for the whole family. That’s just too unfair—”

Old Lady Lian couldn’t take it anymore. Her expression darkened as she snapped, “I’ll do it. I’ll do it for him, is that good enough for you? You just can’t stop stirring up trouble! Your Second Brother and Lian Shi both eat at the workshop, your Second Sister-in-law took the children to Qing Ge’er’s house, and none of them are even eating at home today. Do you still need to cook? Are you working for the Second Branch, or are you expecting them to serve you? On any other day, I wouldn’t say anything, but today is Rong Jie’er’s birthday, and Qing Ge’er invited them over. You can’t even let this one day go? Do you actually care about the chores, or do you just hate seeing others comfortable?!”

Wang Shi hadn’t expected Old Lady Lian to lash out at her so openly. She was caught off guard, her face turning purple with humiliation. She gritted her teeth and muttered under her breath, “So that’s how it is. Mother just favors the Second Branch now that they’ve climbed up in the world. I see it clearly now—you’ve abandoned the Eldest Branch.” Then, clutching Lian Bao in her arms, she stormed off into her room.

Old Lady Lian actually found it laughable. Favoring the Second Branch? If she were truly favoring them, would their earnings still be going into the family pot? If anything, she had been favoring the Eldest Branch so much that she had lost face.

But one thing Wang Shi said wasn’t wrong—the Second Branch had risen. The future of the Lian family rested on Miao Chunlei, Second Aunt Lian, and Qing Ge’er’s connections.

Since the incident with Shen Zhiwei, many village elders had started re-evaluating their treatment of their children. It was customary to favor the eldest son, but there had to be limits. If parents were too biased, they might end up raising another Shen Zhiwei—and that was a terrifying thought.

Although they didn’t believe the unfilial Shen Zhiwei was right, who wouldn’t fear raising a child like him?

So Old Lady Lian and her husband had done some reflecting. Now that she saw how much importance Qing Ge’er placed on Lian Rong and Lian Ou, she decided to soften her attitude toward the girls and gers in the family. “Be polite when you’re with Qing Ge’er. Learn from him. Don’t worry about the chores—Grandma will take care of them.”

Inside the house, Wang Shi watched in secret as Lian Rong and Lian Ou left hand-in-hand. Her usual tricks were useless now, and her frustration nearly made her tear the cloth in her hands.

She was furious and jealous but had no outlet for it. When she turned and saw her youngest ger, Lian Ye, she lashed out at him instead. “You useless thing! Look at Lian Rong—so clever, always thinking ahead, sticking to Shen Qing like a lapdog, already planning her future. And you? You can’t even string a proper sentence together! No wonder Wu Guixiang won’t let you work at the workshop. Why did I have to give birth to such a useless ger?!”

Lian Ye had been quietly changing Lian Bao’s drool cloth. The child was already older but was coddled by Wang Shi to the point of being slow in both speech and walking. He still drooled frequently. Suddenly being scolded, Lian Ye just lowered his head and silently wept.

Why would Qing Ge’er or Madam Guixiang choose him? He wasn’t Qing Ge’er’s cousin. His mother wasn’t related to Miao Shi or on good terms with her. Why should they offer him a job?

It wasn’t his fault he wasn’t born into a good family like Lian Rong and Lian Ou. But now his parents were blaming him for it? What kind of twisted logic was that?

He cried quietly, not even daring to sniffle. Unlike Second Aunt Lian, Wang Shi had always been harsh on her ger, only doting on her son, who made her look good. If she saw him cry, she’d only scold him harder.

Meanwhile, Lian Ou hesitated as he walked with Lian Rong toward Shen Qing’s house. He kept looking back. “Why is Qing Ge’er calling me? Maybe I should go back. If I leave, Big Aunt will just cause trouble again.”

“Are you scared of her?” Lian Rong smirked. “I think Grandma’s different now. Maybe she realizes Qing Ge’er’s opinion matters more than Big Aunt’s.” She was quick to pick up on the shift in family dynamics. If this change continued, it could reshape their family structure entirely.

Lian Rong thought, Wow, Qing Ge’er really is like the Living King of Hell—even Grandma listens to him!

Lian Ou thought about it. “Maybe you’re right.” His gaze fell on the velvet peach blossoms in Lian Rong’s hair. “They look so pretty. Qing Ge’er is really generous, giving you such an expensive gift.”

Lian Rong touched her hair happily and grinned. “It’s my birthday gift from Qing Ge’er! I just scared Big Aunt with it.”

Lian Ou was surprised. “Qing Ge’er really is kind.”

Excitedly, the siblings continued toward the small house at the foot of the mountain.

Shen Qing’s household had long planned to raise dogs—not just for guarding the house but also for protecting the workshop. He had previously asked Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi to keep an eye out, but puppies weren’t always available on demand. Now, they had finally secured one.

Upon hearing this, Miao Shi said, “Qing Ge’er should go pick one when he has time.”

But Shen Qing shook his head. “I’m not home often, and in a few days, I’ll have to leave for business again. It’s better if you go, Mother. Pick one that will be most protective of you.” He had been caught up in a string of events lately and hadn’t returned to the apocalypse world for several days—he could already imagine Song Kaiji sulking in resentment.

“Qing Ge’er is going on a business trip again?” Second Aunt Lian had heard about these trips before and had seen all the fascinating goods Shen Qing brought back. She couldn’t help but be curious. “What’s the world out there really like? It must be even bigger than the county town, right? How come there’s everything you could imagine?”

The farthest she had ever been was Anping County, and even then, she might not visit more than once or twice a year. Many villagers had never even dared to step foot in a county town. To her, the concept of traveling for business was mysterious and distant.

“When my business grows bigger, I’ll take everyone on a trip outside so you can see for yourselves,” Shen Qing said with a smile. Of course, he couldn’t take them to the apocalypse, but a trip to a nearby county or prefecture would do just fine as a casual excursion.

Second Aunt Lian immediately recoiled, shaking her hands. “No, no, no. I’d be scared to death before even reaching the prefectural city.”

Meanwhile, Lian Rong and Lian Ou’s faces showed a bit of longing.

Shen Qing didn’t dwell on the topic of his travels and instead shifted the conversation. He took out the trampled grass-woven butterfly and asked Lian Ou, “Did you make this, Ou Ge’er?”

Lian Ou nodded.

“Can you weave it with a different material?”

“Uh… I think so?” Lian Ou wasn’t sure why Qing Ge’er was asking this but still answered truthfully. “This one was made with the stalks of foxtail grass. It’s thin but strong—really useful. I’ve also used fine willow branches and purple-leaf locust strips before. Those work too, but they don’t look as nice.”

He had put a lot of effort into making his little sister’s birthday gift.

Shen Qing took out two spools of silk cord, one pink and one purple, and handed them to him. “Try weaving with these.”

Lian Ou: !!!

Even though he wasn’t the sharpest, he immediately understood—Qing Ge’er was looking after his family again, this time pulling him in! But when he saw the smooth, glossy silk threads, he hesitated, curling his fingers inward, not daring to take them. “Can I really? My hands are rough, and I have calluses… I might ruin the silk threads.”

“It’s fine. Just try it out first—these threads aren’t worth much. If it turns out well, I’ll help you take care of your hands and teach you new patterns. From then on, you’ll just focus on weaving. I plan to open a ‘Cuihua Shop’ in the county, and you’ll supply goods for me,” Shen Qing explained. This time, he didn’t say that a benefactor was opening the shop—he simply claimed it was his own venture. But none of the Lian family members questioned him. Either they didn’t notice or they had already grown accustomed to the idea that Qing Ge’er having his own shop wasn’t surprising at all.

Gradually and subtly, he was letting the villagers accept the fact that he had wealth and numerous businesses. This was a good approach.

Lian Ou stared blankly at Shen Qing, while Second Aunt Lian’s gaze flickered with uncertainty.

It was Lian Rong who first stood up to encourage her brother. “Ge, just give it a try! You’re so skilled—you can weave butterflies, swallows, and even goldfish beautifully. You’ll definitely do great! Big Aunt didn’t let you work at the workshop, stopping you from earning money. But if you weave for Qing Ge’er, you can make money at home! Let her stew in jealousy!”

Second Aunt Lian gave her a light smack. “Watch what you’re saying.” But her gaze toward Lian Ou was complicated.

Lian Ou was nearly at marriageable age. If not for Qing Ge’er suggesting they wait a year or two for a better match, Second Aunt Lian might have already agreed to marry him off to the Xiahe village chief’s youngest son as a husband.

Qing Ge’er was wonderful—capable, intelligent, and business-savvy, seemingly perfect in every way. But… he was also too opinionated. A ger like that—Second Aunt Lian didn’t even know how to describe it.

It just wasn’t in line with the traditional values of their time.

It was one thing to work at the workshop, but if Lian Ou followed Qing Ge’er’s lead, would he also become independent-minded and less obedient? Second Aunt Lian loved her children no matter what, but she feared that this personality shift could affect Lian Ou’s marriage prospects.

Look at Qing Ge’er—he didn’t even plan on marrying. When he first left the Shen family, he had mentioned it once or twice, but now he didn’t even bring it up anymore. Even Chunlei didn’t seem to be in any hurry, acting like she had no say in the matter.

To Second Aunt Lian, the idea of not marrying was unthinkable. When the time came, you got married—it was just the way things were. If Lian Ou followed Qing Ge’er into business, would he turn out the same way?

But she hesitated for a long time, torn between her concerns and her love for her child. In the end, a mother’s heart always leaned toward her child’s future. Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind and smiled, encouragingly. “Qing Ge’er thinks highly of you and is giving you a chance—just try it out.”

Whatever happens in the future, they could deal with it then. Maybe she was just overthinking things.

Now that even his mother had spoken, Lian Ou finally gathered his courage. Under everyone’s expectant smiles, he nodded and reached out to take the two spools of silk cord from Shen Qing’s hands.

Later in life, Lian Ou would look back on this moment with endless gratitude. He would thank Shen Qing, thank fate, and most of all, thank himself for not backing down—because this was the turning point that changed the life of an uncertain, directionless ger forever.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Ch 14: When the Wild Goose Returns

Ever since the day she flew into a rage, the Empress had been plagued by unrelenting abdominal pain.
The imperial physicians at Hua Feng Palace had been coming in nonstop.
Emperor Wen He, more concerned than anyone, dropped everything—after morning court, he would hurry straight to her palace and stay by her side day and night.

He had made Su Miao the Empress partly because she was the “daughter” of Prince Xingyuan, but more truthfully, because he genuinely liked her.
Even knowing she was spoiled and headstrong, Emperor Wen He often turned a blind eye.
He liked her because she was willful.

Now, seeing the Empress suffering daily, her complexion haggard and unable to eat,
the emperor hovered around her calling her “my precious” with every breath, wishing he could bear the pain in her place.

At last, the Empress fell asleep. Emperor Wen He quietly stepped outside and asked,
“What is it?”

Liu Zhengping replied in a low voice,
“Your Majesty, Princess Huachao has been in the capital for quite some time now.
This marriage remains unsettled—if word gets back to the Tao Kingdom that she’s been left in limbo, it might reflect poorly…”

Emperor Wen He, consumed with worry for his Empress and the little prince she carried, responded impatiently,
“Let Consort Shu find a few noble ladies to keep her company.
They can go to Chunmei Palace or Liu Garden Hill.”

After a pause, he added,
“Prince Kang’s residence is close to Chunmei Palace. Have Princess Consort Kang accompany them as well.”

“Your servant understands.”

Without another word, the emperor turned and hurried back inside to tuck in his Empress and their future son.

Liu Zhengping bowed until the emperor disappeared, then turned and exited. Eunuchs and palace maids along the path bowed low and greeted him respectfully:
“Eunuch Liu.”

Just as Liu Zhengping stepped out of the courtyard, Chang Bai rushed forward to hand him a handwarmer.
“It’s cold, Father. Keep your hands warm.”

Chang Bai was fifteen or sixteen, fair-skinned and delicate in appearance.
His especially bright, clear eyes were like still water—pure and untainted, a rare sight in the palace.

He didn’t resemble a lowly palace servant at all.

Chang Bai was Liu Zhengping’s adopted son.
Eunuchs were supposed to be childless. Those with higher status often selected promising young eunuchs to adopt, compensating for their inability to have children of their own.

“Good boy.”

Liu Zhengping patted his shoulder and continued on his way to carry out the emperor’s orders.

Chang Bai watched his foster father leave, then turned to go.
Just then, he heard someone call, “Qing’er!”

He paused and turned around.

Two palace maids rushed by with arms full of clean laundry from the washing house.

“Qing’er, hurry up or the mistress will be furious!”

“I know, I’m coming…” The one called Qing’er was small and thin, struggling to hold up the heavy pile in her arms.

In a flash, the two maids were gone from view.

Chang Bai stood under the warm midday sun, smiling softly.

He looked like a harmless, obedient child.

—

At Jinghua Palace, Liu Zhengping delivered the emperor’s order to Consort Shu.

She was brushing the hair of the Eighth Princess. After dismissing Liu Zhengping, her arched brows furrowed slightly with irritation.

She preferred quiet and disliked noise and bustle.

Still, an imperial command was not to be ignored. She could only carry it out dutifully.

That afternoon, she summoned two noble daughters: Cheng Mujin, the Left Chancellor’s eldest legitimate granddaughter, and Tao Ningxin, the youngest granddaughter of the Right Chancellor.
She also sent word to other palaces, inviting Princess Huachao to Chunmei Palace the next day for plum blossom viewing.

—

Meanwhile, Qing Yan was curled up in the corner of her bed, bundled in blankets like a little ball.

“If you’re sick, you need to take medicine.”

Wen Xi frowned at her.

Qing Yan curved her eyes into crescent moons and gave a winning smile.
“When I was little, I’d just bundle up and drink hot water when I was sick.
I always got better on my own—no medicine needed.”

She wasn’t lying. Back when she was just a servant, she couldn’t afford medicine for every cold.
Instead, she’d drink as much hot water as she could, bury herself under a quilt, and sweat it out.
Only when it became unbearable would she splurge on medicine.

That day she jumped into Ouhé Lake, soaking herself through.
With the late winter wind, catching a chill was inevitable.

Still, it had taken two days for the fever to show, which even Wen Xi found odd.

Wen Xi reached over and touched her forehead.
Sure enough, she wasn’t running a fever like she had the night before.

“Can you manage to go to Chunmei Palace tomorrow?”

Qing Yan nodded enthusiastically.
“I promise to be a perfectly healthy Princess of Huachao for you, Sister Wen Xi!”

Wen Xi didn’t press further. She handed her a cloth soaked in medicinal water.
“Use this on your eyes.”

Qing Yan paused before taking it.
She didn’t place it on her eyes right away, but asked suddenly,
“Sister Wen Xi… is Prince Zhan’s fief along the Zhan Yuan River?”

Wen Xi nodded.

“Then why hasn’t he ever gone there?
Will he stay in the capital forever?”

“Prince Kang was a special case—he had a leg condition and withdrew completely from court affairs.
Other than that, no adult prince stays in the capital indefinitely.
Especially not someone like Prince Zhan, who poses a threat to the throne.
Even if His Majesty were willing, the court officials would never allow it.
Now that he’s taken monastic vows on behalf of the emperor, once the three years are up, he’ll likely leave for his fief.”

“Oh…” Qing Yan held the medicinal cloth in her hand, a bit absent-minded.

“What’s the matter?”

She shook her head, lay down obediently, and covered her eyes.

Wen Xi didn’t ask further, quietly closing the door behind her as she left.

The medicinal cloth stung the moment it touched her eyes, making them tear up uncontrollably.
Qing Yan gritted her teeth against the pain and thought of the Zhan Yuan River.

She was from Zhan Yuan.
Born and raised in Zhan Yuan Prefecture.
Her former mistress was the daughter of the Prefect there.
She didn’t want to go back—she couldn’t go back.
Someone there would surely recognize her true identity.

“What do I do…” she mumbled, eyes gradually lighting up as an idea formed.
Why did it have to be her, using seduction to change Emperor Wenhe’s mind?

“Maybe I’ve been thinking about this all wrong…”
Qing Yan suddenly pulled the cloth from her eyes.
“No one can force Prince Zhan. If I annoy him enough, he might just go to the emperor himself and ask not to marry me!”

Outside, Wen Xi knocked firmly and scolded,
“Your time’s not up—don’t take the compress off secretly.”

Startled, Qing Yan flopped back onto the bed and obediently lay still.

The next morning, just as she’d said, her fever was gone.
Wen Xi observed her closely—Qing Yan now moved with ease, showing no trace of yesterday’s heat or weakness.

It was honestly impressive.

Chunmei Palace, a winter imperial retreat for viewing plum blossoms, was vast and filled with dozens of varieties of plum trees—truly a spectacle.
In addition to the flowers, the palace also had hot springs, a great indulgence in winter.

But Qing Yan had no interest in flower viewing. She was distracted and inattentive.

Consort Shu was quiet and only spoke occasionally to fulfill her duty as hostess.
Cheng Mujin was gentle and quiet by nature.
Tao Ningxin was lively, but only when she felt like it.

Seeing how silent everyone was, Qing Yan lost the desire to make small talk. She propped her chin in her hand and stared silently at the blossoms.

Lunch was served at Chunmei Palace.
The moment it arrived, the dazed Qing Yan immediately perked up, eyes lighting with focus as they locked onto the array of delicacies.

When Wen Xi handed her chopsticks, she subtly pressed Qing Yan’s palm with her pinky—
a signal.

Qing Yan understood and straightened up properly, letting the maids serve her before taking small, delicate bites.

Still, she felt like eating this way sucked all the joy out of food.

She thought her bites were small and elegant, but in others’ eyes, it was a picture of serious, almost reverent eating.

Consort Shu couldn’t help but glance at her.

Qing Yan kept her gaze lowered, focused on the food. Her lips opened and closed slightly as she chewed, her soft pale cheeks moving just a bit.

It was the same food, yet when she ate it, it somehow seemed more delicious.

Consort Shu took a sip of tea, glanced at Qing Yan again, and—perhaps infected by her enthusiasm—ate a little more than usual herself.

After lunch, trays of fresh fruit and delicate pastries were brought out.

Qing Yan didn’t care that no one was speaking. She nibbled on cakes quietly.
Following Wen Xi’s earlier instructions, she took tiny bites and let each one melt slowly in her mouth.

Just then, a maid announced that Princess Consort Kang had arrived.

But her presence did little to warm the chilly atmosphere of the room.

Only after Qing Yan had sampled every unfamiliar pastry on the table did she wash her hands in the basin provided.

Then she turned to Consort Shu and said directly,
“Your Ladyship, I have something I’d like to ask.”

Everyone looked up—finally, someone was breaking the awkward silence.

“What is it, Princess?”

“I wanted to ask—does Your Ladyship know what Prince Zhan dislikes?”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Though it was no secret that the emperor intended to marry her to Prince Zhan, to ask so bluntly was… a bit much.
Everyone, including Consort Shu, assumed she was trying to find a way to win Prince Zhan’s favor.

“Prince Zhan…” Consort Shu did know a bit more than others, but she had to choose her words carefully.
After some thought, she replied,
“In my opinion, Prince Zhan dislikes women who are too forward.”

Tao Ningxin let out a little laugh and added,
“Her Ladyship’s not wrong. Plenty of bold girls have tried throwing themselves at him—best case, they got a cold look. Worst case… they didn’t survive it.”

Not fond of forward women?

Qing Yan’s eyes moved slightly as she recalled their first meeting at Yongzhou Temple—her nervous awkwardness mistaken for seduction…

Consort Shu added,
“Also, he hates cats.”

Cheng Mujin looked at Qing Yan.
“Princess, when are you to marry Prince Zhan?”

Tao Ningxin teased,
“Sister Mujin, don’t be so direct—you’ve made the princess blush!”

Qing Yan touched her face and muttered dejectedly,
“But I don’t even get to see him…”

“Cough!”
Consort Shu choked on her tea, shocked by Qing Yan’s honesty.
This princess… was even more blunt than County Princess Zhenxian.
That… might be a problem.

Princess Consort Kang, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke:
“These plum trees bloom every year—there’s nothing new in seeing them.
This winter, I raised a few in my own garden. Perhaps you’d like to visit?”

She smiled at Qing Yan, then added:
“By the way, Princess Huachao may not know this, but Prince Zhan’s residence was damaged three years ago.
Since then, he’s stayed at the Kang residence whenever he’s returned to the capital.”

Qing Yan’s calm eyes lit up like starlight flooding a river.
Her pretty face seemed to glow with it, dimming everyone else’s by comparison.
A single look, a single smile—some faces truly did change with emotion.

Qing Yan tilted her head.
“Bring me a food box.”

The others watched in confusion as she carefully selected one of each pastry from the table and packed them into the box.

—

Their group arrived at Prince Kang’s residence, and just as they entered the front courtyard, they encountered Duan Wucuo and Prince Kang, Duan Wuyu.

Prince Kang, with his leg ailment, sat in a wheelchair.
Duan Wucuo walked beside him.

Consort Shu was just considering whether they should step aside when something lavender darted past her peripheral vision.

She froze.

Before anyone else could react, Qing Yan, holding the food box with both hands, skipped straight toward Duan Wucuo.

She stopped in front of him, raised her face, and looked up with affectionate eyes.

Then, lifting the lid of the box, she said sweetly,
“I made these myself—won’t you try one?”

Everyone behind her—Consort Shu, Princess Consort Kang, Cheng Mujin, and Tao Ningxin—stood frozen in disbelief.

Duan Wucuo’s gaze drifted from her clear eyes to the little box she held.

After a pause, he picked up a lotus-flavored crisp cake.

Under Qing Yan’s expectant gaze, his long, well-shaped fingers brought the delicate pastry to his lips and took a bite.

Then he said,
“Open your mouth.”

Qing Yan blinked in confusion.
“Huh—?”

Before she could finish, Duan Wucuo stuffed the bitten pastry into her mouth, his thumb slowly wiping the jam off the corner of her lips.

Then, he said,

“Disgusting.”

°❀.ೃ࿔°❀.ೃ࿔