“My family sells wine. If you move everyone in the village up the mountain, who’s going to buy from us?”
There weren’t many people in the village to begin with, and even fewer bought wine. Most families bought a month’s supply at a time; who would buy wine every single day?
This was clearly a blatant attempt at extortion.
By now, many villagers had gathered to watch the commotion. The Gan family’s usually quiet courtyard was now bustling with a restless crowd.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Wang Lishi felt she had backup and shouted arrogantly, “It’s all because you delayed our family’s business! Pay up!”
【Oh ho, so the old poison hag is here.】
Oh ho? What does that mean?
Gan Fanren was a bit dazed.
Then he heard Wang Lishi shout, “Pay up! Ten taels of silver!”
【I only spent ten taels to unlock the Supermarket. Even the Xitong isn’t as greedy as you. A capitalist would weep if they heard this.】
Gan Tian wailed in anger, but then she quickly calmed down.
【I remember the book mentioned that the wine the Wang family brews is made from moldy grain. That’s why when the Wang family died, some people in the village actually cheered.】
【Hmph, it’s a pity I can’t talk. Otherwise, I’d definitely expose you and let the villagers give you a harsh lesson. Then I’d tell the village’s old bachelor the news and let him extort a fortune from you, so you can taste your own medicine.】
No wonder the Wang family’s wine always has a strange smell; it turns out it’s brewed from moldy grain.
At the thought that he had drunk his fair share of the Wang family’s wine, Gan Fanren’s mood became complicated.
“Who doesn’t know your family’s wine is brewed from moldy grain?”
“Forget ten taels—it’s not even worth a single copper.”
As soon as Gan Fanren spoke, the villagers gasped in surprise.
“What? The grain they use for brewing is all moldy?”
“That can’t be right. Their family is from our Wang Village. How could they trick us with moldy grain?”
“Exactly. Going back three generations, the head of their family was even our village’s Lizheng.”
Seeing everyone standing on her side, Wang Lishi blustered loudly, “Scholar Gan, don’t you dare go accusing people just because you’re a scholar!”
“Everyone, don’t listen to this Gan fellow’s nonsense! He’s an outsider; he just can’t stand to see us folks of Wang Village living well.”
The Gan family had come here while Fleeing Famine; they weren’t originally from Wang Village. Compared to Gan Fanren, the people were more inclined to believe Wang Lishi.
“I think Scholar Gan just wants to trick us all into going up the mountain so he can steal everything valuable from our homes.”
“We can’t listen to him.”
Gan Tian had finally witnessed the diversity of human stupidity. She didn’t want to live, and she wanted to drag the whole village down with her. Stupid and poisonous. If she hadn’t transmigrated, she wouldn’t have known humans could be this moronic.
【Is this old poison hag brain-damaged? Dad was the one who suggested going up the mountain. If he really planned to steal things, wouldn’t that be way too obvious?】
【I think we should really give them a lesson. Go to their house and expose their true faces.】
Gan Fanren tightened his grip on Gan Tian and said coldly, “Whether I’ve slandered you or not, wouldn’t we know just by going to your house to take a look?”
“I wonder if everyone is willing to go to the Wang house with me.”
The villagers loved nothing more than a good spectacle. Hearing there was drama to watch, they all agreed in unison.
The faces of the Wang family members turned pale. “No, you can’t go.”
The more the Wang family resisted, the more suspicious everyone became.
“Could it be that the Wang family really uses moldy grain to brew their wine?”
Hearing the low murmurs, the Wang family’s expressions became unnatural. Wang Lishi tried to sneak away quietly to hide the moldy grain at home.
Just as she started to leave, Gan Fanren’s voice rang out behind her.
“Trying to run back to destroy the evidence?”
Countless eyes snapped toward Wang Lishi. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
Everyone in the village knew Wang Lishi. She was a notorious shrew who would argue her way through even when she was clearly in the wrong. Now, she couldn’t say a word; she was obviously feeling guilty.
The thought of having spent hard-earned money on moldy wine made the villagers’ blood boil.
“Let’s go! To the Wang house!”
Escorted by the villagers, Gan Fanren arrived at the Wang residence. Gan Tian shouted in her heart:
【Go to the wine cellar! Go to the wine cellar!】
Gan Fanren gently stroked Gan Tian’s little head with a tender gaze and led everyone to open the wine cellar.
As soon as the cellar door opened, a pungent, rotting stench hit them. The smell was so overwhelming that some people were driven to vomit.
At the thought that this was what they had been drinking, everyone was beyond furious. They had trusted Wang Lishi so much!
The villagers, feeling played for fools, surrounded the Wang family. Countless fists rained down on them, and many shouted for compensation.
Watching the Wang family get beaten, Gan Tian felt satisfied.
【That’s what you get for bullying Daddy. I’ll beat you to a pulp!】
My daughter is so young, yet she already knows how to help me get revenge.
It really is better to have a daughter.
Daughters know how to care for people.
Gan Fanren held his daughter, feeling delighted as he hummed a little tune on the way home.
As soon as he reached the front door, he met the resentful glares of his two sons.
“Dad, we ran back as soon as school was over to see our sister. How could you just carry her away?”
“Daddy is bad! You’re trying to hog sister for yourself!”
Gan Tian looked closely. Standing before her were two children, one older and one younger.
The older one was about nine years old, fair-skinned and handsome, having fully inherited the good looks of their parents. Despite his young age, one could already see his elegant and refined future self. This must be the eldest brother, Gan Huaizhong.
The younger one was about five, sturdy and clever-looking, with eyes that darted around mischievously. He looked like he was full of schemes. This should be the second brother, Gan Huaibi.
【Good heavens. My dad is called Gan Fanren (Knock-em-over), my big brother is Gan Huaizhong (Bad Seed), and my second brother is Gan Huaibi (Bad Prick). This is just too much!】
【I have to ask, who else? Who else has names like this!】
The corners of Gan Fanren’s mouth twitched slightly. Before hearing his daughter’s thoughts, he had never considered such interpretations.
Did I give the kids the wrong names? Is it too late to change them now?
“Stop your lip. Hurry up and pack your things. We’re heading up the mountain.”
Gan Huaizhong frowned. “Mother just gave birth to sister. It’s not good to go up the mountain at a time like this, is it?”
“Just pack when I tell you to. Don’t ask questions.”
Gan Fanren nailed several wooden boards together, tied them with rope, and placed the packed items onto the makeshift sled.
He glanced at the sky. It was already growing dark, and heavy rain was clearly imminent. He didn’t know if Hui Niang’s body could handle it if it started to pour. A trace of melancholy touched his handsome brow.
【Aya, look at my memory.】
Gan Tian excitedly rummaged through the Supermarket and pulled out several raincoats of different sizes.
【If they wear these, they won’t have to worry about getting soaked. Mother’s body is so weak; if she gets caught in the rain, she’ll definitely fall ill.】
This time, she controlled the direction and placed the raincoats onto the wooden boards.
Except for Gan Fanren and Hui Niang, who could hear her thoughts, no one noticed the extra clothes appearing.
Gan Fanren calmly picked up the raincoats from the boards.
“Everyone, wear these inside your clothes. Make sure no one sees them.”
The raincoats were light, thin, and transparent—clearly not items of the mortal realm. They must never be shown to others easily.