FID – Chapter 954

Chapter 954: Becoming a Classic Example

As the year-end approached and the harsh winter deepened, the old pagoda tree at the village entrance had shed all its leaves, leaving only barren, withered branches stretching in crooked lines.

The Qing River at the village entrance was nearly dried up. Frost covered the surface, making it look like a long white ribbon at a glance.

In the rice fields beside the river, stacks of harvested sheaves rose like small huts, and neat stubble remained across the fields.

Everywhere, the landscape looked bleak. Yet the spirit of the village remained entirely untouched by this desolation—laughter and chatter drifted out from behind courtyard walls.

The New Year was coming.

Oxcarts moved constantly through the village, villagers traveling back and forth as they purchased New Year goods, smiles bright on their faces.

Every household had already pasted bright red Spring Festival couplets by their doors. Children laughed and played, clinging to the adults and begging for the freshly bought fruits and sweets.

The liveliest place of all was the Liu family’s large courtyard.

The main hall was nearly packed. The adults chatted and joked around the brazier, while the little children ran between them, pockets stuffed full of candies, babbling in their sweet childish voices.

Beside the brazier stood two small cradles. Inside them, two chubby, jade-like babies stared up with bright, curious eyes at the crowd of little heads hovering over them, babbling nonstop.

“Nannan and Zhixia are both back. No wonder the Liu courtyard is so lively now. Four generations under one roof. Brother, Sister-in-law, you two are truly blessed.”

“Waking up in the morning without needing to do anything; just hearing the little ones’ voices is enough to keep you smiling for half the day.”

The village women were envious. They have a house full of children and grandchildren, all of them filial and accomplished. No family had greater fortune than the Lius.

Grandma Liu’s face was full of happy wrinkles. “And this isn’t even everyone yet. Once Qinglian and Xiao Jinzi bring their wives and children back, that will be truly lively.”

“Young Master Qian already married before the New Year, right? Next year, you’ll be holding another baby.”

“Exactly. We didn’t attend the wedding this time, but since Nannan and Axiu were in the capital, letting them deliver our wedding gift was just the same. The banquet was full of noble families. We’d have had nowhere to put our hands and feet. We don’t like that kind of socializing anyway. When they come back after the New Year, we’ll celebrate properly at home.”

This was a lingering regret in the hearts of the Liu elders.

They had known Xiao Jinzi for so many years and had long treated him as one of their own children. For their own child to be married and for them not to be present—’regret’ hardly began to cover what they felt.

“Grandma, even if you had gone, Qian Wanjin would’ve had to take time to entertain you. He might not have been happy about that,” Liu Yusheng said.

“Why not?”

“He was in a rush to get to the nuptial chamber. Even Feng Qingbai and I got kicked out by him.”

“…You, you got married and suddenly you’re not shy about anything!”

Laughter burst forth again and again throughout the room.

Thankfully, this side of the house was all women. The men were gathered around a separate brazier in the kitchen; otherwise, they truly would have blushed.

“Qinglian’s been in Miaojiang for nearly three months now. Has any news come back?” Fu Yuzheng asked.

Whenever Qian Wanjin was mentioned, one naturally thought of Xue Qinglian. In these past days, everyone in the house and even the whole village had learned of Xue Qinglian’s situation, and all were furious on his behalf.

“Not yet. Miaojiang is in the northwest and is extremely mysterious. All these years, I’ve never heard of outsiders entering it. No information ever comes out from inside. For Qinglian to make it into Miaojiang successfully won’t be easy.”

At the mention of Xue Qinglian, Liu Yusheng frowned unconsciously.

Feng Qingbai had told her a bit about Miaojiang. Her only impression was that it was enigmatic. There were very few records about the place.

What she feared most was that Qinglian might not even be able to enter its borders. If so, then the Gu in his body…

“That uncle of his is truly a beast! How much have Qinglian and Honglian done for him? And in the end he planted a Gu on the boy and nearly killed him!” Grandma Liu’s thoughts immediately shifted to Qinglian again, and she slapped her thigh in anger.

“Mother, they say good people receive good fortune. I’m sure Qinglian will turn misfortune into blessing in the end.” Worried the old lady might work herself into a rage, Chen Xiulan hurried to comfort her.

Du Juan chimed in as well. “Qinglian lived here in Xinghua Village, in the Liu family courtyard! And what is this place? A blessed land. Qinglian has soaked up our good luck, so he’ll definitely be fine.”

“Xue Qinglian has always been someone who plans ahead. As long as he finds the place, he’ll definitely find a way to slip in,” Liu Muqiu said. “Back then, didn’t he sneak into our courtyard? Even His Highness was fooled by him at first.”

It was one of the very few times Feng Qingbai had miscalculated.

Hearing this, Grandma Liu finally relaxed. “That’s true. If he could even fool Axiu, then sneaking into Southern Xinjiang should be no problem for him.”

Liu Yusheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Now Feng Qingbai has become the standard comparison for everything.

The cheerful chatter in the main hall resumed, and over in the kitchen, the group of old men were just as animated.

Grandpa Liu, Elder Jiu, the village chief, and several other elders were discussing wine and the latest news from the capital—news they had just pried out of Feng Qingbai.

Meanwhile, Liu Zhiqiu pulled Feng Qingbai and Liu Zhixia aside for a private talk. “After the New Year, I’ll take you two to see the estates I bought. Give me some advice, and help me pull a few strings while you’re at it.”

Liu Zhixia snorted lightly. “Your real goal is that last part, isn’t it?”

“You’re my brother and my brother-in-law. Of course I have to rely on my own people, right? Don’t act like strangers.” Liu Zhiqiu grinned. “With you backing me up, I can save myself a whole lot of unnecessary trouble.”

“You bought them after coming back from the capital?” Feng Qingbai asked. He hadn’t expected that taking the elders to visit his own estate would open a new door in Liu Zhiqiu’s mind.

“You know me. I’ve always lived day to day, with no big ambitions. I like being carefree, eating and idling away my time. Having a few estates of my own so I can ensure I never run out of food is enough to make me happy.”

“You wouldn’t starve even if you didn’t buy estates,” Liu Zhixia teased, unable to understand why this guy had suddenly decided to buy estates and become a landlord.

Did he think owning an estate meant a leisurely life? Once the work piled up, it would be even more exhausting than managing a few distilleries.

“I just want you two to show your faces, greet the local officials, that’s all. If I’m here and someone causes trouble over there, I’d have to run back and forth. It’s not only a hassle but exhausting too,” Liu Zhiqiu said, blinking at them, waiting for their nods.

“No,” the two replied in unison.

“…Are you really my brother? My brother-in-law?”

Feng Qingbai raised an eyebrow. “You said it yourself. You’re lazy. Do you think a lazy person would buy estates just to give themselves extra work? Until you tell me the real reason, I won’t agree to anything.”

Liu Zhixia nodded. “Same here.”

“…” What a heartless pair.

Then Liu Zhixia added, “Even if you really want to be a landlord, you should buy estates in Yunzhou. Everything would be more convenient there. With your reputation as the Second Young Master of the Liu family, no one would dare cause trouble. So why take a long and arduous journey to Jizhou or Yuzhou?”

Those two places weren’t even their territory.

He knew his younger brother’s character very well. He was absolutely not someone who acted on a whim without thinking.