Yun Niang cleaned the biggest carp and put it in the pot to stew. She also picked a smaller grass carp and stir-fried it. The moment the fish hit the hot oil, the aroma rose instantly—it was just a shame they didn’t have enough spices.
While Yun Niang was busy cooking, Shen Yourong helped by her side, but the others couldn’t just sit around either.
“Pick a bigger one. Xiao Yue, take Wei and deliver it to Uncle Ma’s house,” Xu Changnian instructed.
Ma Han was a sincere man and had a good relationship with the Xu family.
Naturally, Xu Changnian wanted to show some gratitude. The fishing net was borrowed from his house, and more importantly, earlier at the village entrance, Ma Han had also spoken up for Yun Niang.
“As for Li Youtian, I think we should send one too. After all, the village chief is still a public official.” Xu Changnian looked at Yun Niang and asked, “Sister-in-law, what do you think?”
There was a saying in his past life: never underestimate the village party secretary.
Even a small village chief held real authority.
Especially with the Xu family’s current situation—the internal family tensions had eased for now, and there was enough millet to eat—but things in Qingshan Village were far from stable.
The pest Liu Ermazi hadn’t been dealt with yet, and now they had also clashed with Wang Wu and those two hunters. Sure, what happened on the mountain was their own fault—they deserved it—but would Wang Wu see it that way?
Not everyone reflected on their own mistakes, especially petty people like Wang Wu. He was bound to blame it all on the Xu family.
It was fine if things stayed peaceful, but once trouble came knocking, Wang Wu would be the first to kick them while they were down.
The more complicated things got in the village, the more they needed to strengthen connections. They had to keep close with Brother Ma and maintain good terms with the village chief.
When real trouble came, they didn’t need them to lend a hand—just not siding with Wang Wu’s gang would be enough.
“Alright, we’ll do it your way,” Yun Niang nodded.
The look she gave Xu Changnian was a little strange, but she didn’t say much. After picking out a big fish, Xu Changnian personally went to the village chief’s house, while Xia Yue and Shen Wei went off to Ma Han’s.
“Good,” Xu Tielin sighed from the side.
A harmonious family—that was his greatest wish. In the end, he couldn’t help stroking his beard and smiling as he thought of Yun Niang’s expression.
When Xu Changnian had just divided the fish, why had Yun Niang looked a bit off?
Because Xu Changnian’s position in the household had changed.
Before, Yun Niang had always been in charge—handling everything, big and small. But in just a few short days, Xu Changnian had become the pillar of the family. Even Yun Niang treated him differently now. At the very least, she no longer pointed at his nose and called him a good-for-nothing!
Maybe even Xu Changnian hadn’t realized it himself.
…
Inside Qingshan Village, Xu Changnian carried the fish through several winding paths before finally arriving at the village chief’s house. If he didn’t count his original self, this was his first time coming here.
He looked up. The house was built from brick, a two-yard layout. Against the backdrop of the village’s thatched huts, this place looked like a mansion—especially eye-catching.
Not hard to understand though. Qingshan Village had over 100 households and more than 600 mu of farmland.
The Li family alone held more than half. In recent years, the harvests had been poor. When villagers couldn’t eat, they had to mortgage land to borrow food from Li Youtian. If they couldn’t repay it the following year, the land would belong to Li Youtian. That’s how he had accumulated over 300 mu.
This method of acquiring land was worse than robbery. If not for transmigrating, the Xu family’s land would’ve been next. Xu Changnian couldn’t help sighing.
“Is Brother Dashan home? I caught more fish than I could eat today, so I brought one for you,” Xu Changnian said with a bright smile as he knocked on the door. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Changnian! Don’t just stand outside. Come in and sit,” Li Yunshan answered. Seeing the fish in his hand, he instantly understood and took it, inviting Xu Changnian in for tea.
After being in this world for several days, this was the first time Xu Changnian had seen proper tea.
In ancient times, the common folk’s biggest dream was to eat coarse meals and drink plain tea. That was already a luxury. Few families in Qingshan Village had tea—especially in these famine years.
But the Li family did.
Xu Changnian took a sip. It was slightly bitter with a grassy taste. Most likely willow-leaf tea, made by blanching and drying willow leaves. The tea water had a yellowish tint. If you asked Xu Changnian honestly, it wasn’t tasty. But in Qingshan Village, it was a “premium drink.” If he weren’t recently making a name for himself and hadn’t brought something over, he wouldn’t even have gotten a sip.
“Good. I watched you grow up, always mischievous. Now you have a wife and have become more sensible. It’s comforting,” Li Youtian said with polite words.
“Sorry for all the trouble I caused the village before. I really appreciate your care,” Xu Changnian replied warmly. “I’ll definitely follow Brother Dashan’s example and do my best to contribute to Qingshan Village’s development!”
Empty compliments didn’t cost a thing. Xu Changnian was smooth and spoke even better than he flattered. These little words caught Li Youtian completely off guard. He had never heard countryside folks talk like this before!
Li Yunshan, standing nearby, was covered in goosebumps. Anyone who didn’t know better might think some big shot from the county had arrived.
Was this really the same troublemaker Xu Changnian who used to hang out with Liu Ermazi?
“Good, that’s reassuring,” Li Youtian nodded. “In the future, stay away from Liu Ermazi. Don’t let your father worry. That guy doesn’t have a clear head. Just the other day he ran off to Zhoujia Town because someone fed him rumors. Got himself beat up good.”
He gave a final piece of advice as Xu Changnian got up to leave.
“I understand,” Xu Changnian smiled and left. But once he turned the corner, his expression changed subtly.
That old fox was clearly hinting something. Liu Ermazi going to Zhoujia Town wasn’t random—someone had instructed him. And now he’s trying to warn me?
Out of goodwill?
Yeah, right.
If he had even half a conscience, he wouldn’t be hoarding land during a famine and forcing villagers to starve.
Xu Changnian stroked his chin as he walked, until he spotted another brick house.
Old Xu Hei?!
That’s right—Li Youtian must’ve been implying Xu Hei. He wanted me to start a conflict with him.
Now everything made sense.
Currently in Qingshan Village, the only one who could challenge Li Youtian was Old Xu Hei. As the saying goes, one mountain can’t have two tigers. The two of them were natural rivals.
“That old dog wants to sit back and watch us fight, dreaming big,” Xu Changnian spat on the ground and silently added Li Youtian’s name to his mental blacklist.
Now wasn’t the time to offend him, but that didn’t mean the future was off limits.
He leaned quietly near Old Xu Hei’s doorway, a sneer on his lips. First, he lusted after Yun Niang. Then, he ordered Liu Ermazi to tail me. Who knows what else he’s done?
Xu Changnian wasn’t someone who liked to stir trouble, but Xu Hei had crossed the line.
Creak—
The door of Xu Hei’s house opened. Xu Changnian quickly ducked around the corner and peeked out.
“Granny Huang, take these things. If you need anything in the future, just let me know,” Xu Hei said.
“Alright, alright,” she replied.
After a few polite words, Granny Huang left with a string of cured meat and a small bag—looked like grain.
Once she was gone, Xu Hei’s previously kind face turned gloomy. He turned back and glared at Liu Ermazi.
Liu Ermazi looked terrible. After being beaten in Zhoujia Town, his legs trembled just standing.
“Useless piece of trash. I told you to follow Xu Changnian—what the hell were you doing?”
“I didn’t expect the town to… Brother Hei, I really have no food at home. Please help me…”
“What the hell am I feeding you for?”
…
Hiding in the shadows, Xu Changnian watched as Xu Hei cursed Liu Ermazi out, then still handed over a small bag of millet.
After gratefully thanking him and declaring he wouldn’t let Xu Changnian off, Liu Ermazi hobbled away.
“Heh. Won’t let me off?” Xu Changnian muttered as he stared coldly at Liu Ermazi’s back.
His gaze swept over a stick lying on the ground.
He still didn’t fully understand Xu Hei’s background, so it wasn’t wise to act rashly. Despite being short and dark, that man had a solid stance—clearly someone trained.
A fight? Xu Changnian knew he couldn’t win right now. And technically, things hadn’t yet escalated publicly.
A few days ago, hadn’t Xu Hei even brought food to visit Xu Tielin?
But as for Liu Ermazi? Who the hell was he? Always threatening to deal with me? Great. Let me take care of you first!
Now that Xu Hei had just given him grain, was he even worthy of eating it?
Let’s call it interest on the debt!
A few minutes later—
“Ahhh—!”
A miserable scream echoed through half the village.
Liu Ermazi, walking alone on the road, was struck on the back of the head with a stick. Then someone threw a cloth over him…
And gave him a proper, brutal beating!
The precious 5 kilograms of millet he’d just received from Xu Hei?
Gone.
“Ugh… ugh…!” Liu Ermazi clutched his head, lying on the ground, sobbing in utter humiliation.
Who the hell did this?!