FID – Chapter 1115

Chapter 1115 – Grandpa Will Retire Here

Liu Zhixia watched the whole scene unfold.

So Feng Qingbai had gone out of his way to please his wife, acting as an internal supporter within the men’s team, coordinating between husband and wife.

All that just to coax them into wearing a pair of gloves?

However, his muttered complaint was low and, since he was right next to Feng Qingbai, no one else heard it.

On the ridge, the girl had already skipped lightly back to the shade under the tree. Feng Qingbai, caught in the act, remained expressionless.

“Shengsheng got up in the middle of the night to treat my water-blistered hands, and this morning got up early to sew these gloves,” Feng Qingbai said calmly, his hands still busy cutting the rice. There was no special emotion detectable in his tone, yet from the side, one could see the faint lift of his lips. “She cares more about my hands than I do. Wearing gloves can ease her mind, so why wouldn’t I wear them?”

Liu Zhixia lowered his head, looking at the finely stitched, oddly shaped gloves in his hands. He didn’t know what he was thinking, but a gentle warmth appeared in his eyes.

Not far away, the family’s youngest muttered, “They look a bit weird, like pieces of dough stuck together, but once on, they’re okay enough.”

“Let’s get to work.” Liu Zhixia lowered his head, and the three of them moved almost in unison, beginning the process of pushing down the rice stalks.

The soreness and fatigue from the first day of heavy work remained, but the three young people didn’t slow down. For the entire day, they worked as if pumped full of energy, harvesting even faster than yesterday.

The family only had about ten acres of land in total, so after another full day of work tomorrow, the harvest would be mostly done.

They were in charge of cutting the rice, piling it in the fields. Once bundled, Wei Lan and Wei Hong, the couple, carried it to the drying yard, where Elder Jiu was stationed, gathering a group of village elders who didn’t work in the fields to thresh and dry the grain.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

The work was completed smoothly.

The harvest times for other households in the village were roughly the same.

Once all the fields were harvested, that night, a group of men gathered at the Lius to set up a Dragon Gate Formation for drinking, enjoying themselves thoroughly.

The entire village celebrated the harvest.

In Xinghua Village, this was no longer a rare event, yet everyone’s hearts were still filled with joy.

With the work done and spirits high, of course, there was wine to celebrate.

The Lius’ kitchen was full of people, the atmosphere lively and raucous. Amid this commotion, a few figures quietly slipped out.

They didn’t go far, carrying a jar of wine and several cups, taking a detour into the inner courtyard. It was Feng Qingbai, Liu Zhixia, Liu Zhiqiu, and Xue Qinglian.

The village men inside were all talking about how many rice merchants had come to the village that day, and how the price of rice had soared again.

These topics didn’t concern them, and they weren’t used to shouting to chat.

After half an hour of being little more than background scenery in the kitchen, the four couldn’t take it anymore and slipped away.

The inner courtyard was quiet, a stark contrast to the noise in the kitchen.

At this moment, the bright moon hung in the sky, bathing the entire courtyard in a soft silver light. Around them, the chirping of insects unique to the village under moonlight filled the air. Being there made one feel as if the soul itself were being washed by the moonlight—serene and tranquil.

“After these past couple of days, it’s about time to head back to the capital, right?” Liu Zhixia asked.

“Mm. The two little ones are still in the capital, so naturally we have to go back for a visit. There are also affairs at court that need to be handed over properly,” Feng Qingbai replied with a smile.

Soon, he and Shengsheng would be able to return here with their children, beginning the life they had long dreamed of.

“My transfer orders have also come through. After the harvest, once the new prefect arrives for handover, I’ll have to rush to the capital.”

“I thought you’d head to the capital in July.”

“In July, you were still in Xiliang. I was too worried about you to even think about that,” Liu Zhixia said, a rare emotion in his tone. It wasn’t frustration over the delayed transfer order. 

It was unfair that Feng Qingbai could return to Xinghua Village early to enjoy a peaceful life, while he himself would remain in the capital, working himself to exhaustion, constantly navigating intrigue and danger.

A hand patted his shoulder. Feng Qingbai said, “Do your best. I’ll leave Feng Mohan in your hands.” 

Liu Zhixia was so annoyed he felt blood rush to his head.

“Feng Qingbai goes back to the capital, my elder brother returns to Yunzhou, the two of you traveling together works out. Is Xue Qinglian going to the capital too?” Liu Zhiqiu thought strategically.

Among the three sitting there, Liu Zhiqiu knew he absolutely couldn’t outmatch any of them.

He wanted them all gone, so he could continue to dominate the top of the young generation’s food chain at home.

As soon as he said that, the three of them all turned to look at him. “What, with no tigers in the mountains, is the monkey going to declare himself king?”

“Not at all. You’re all people handling big matters. Finishing things properly and coming back later is the same. You have to tie up loose ends to ensure peace of mind afterward, right? Our home is in Xinghua Village, and you can always come back here without a problem, right? There’s really no rush,” Liu Zhiqiu said cheerfully, blatantly lying with a straight face.

“Get lost. Don’t act all innocent, you can’t pull it off,” Liu Zhixia shot back.

“I’m not acting. Don’t believe me? Look into my eyes,” Liu Zhiqiu insisted, sincerity written all over his face.

The three of them each offered a sharp assessment.

“Shifty-eyed.”

“Rodent-faced.”

“Unbearable to look at.”

Liu Zhiqiu felt utterly exposed. “Damn!”

No one paid him any mind.

The other three basically acted as if he didn’t exist and returned to their previous topic. “Shengsheng and I will head back to the capital the day after tomorrow. As for Xue Qinglian, whether you come along or not is up to you.”

Xue Qinglian fell silent.

He understood what Feng Qingbai meant.

Xue Zhong was still in the King’s Manor in the capital.

No matter what Xue Zhong had done in the past, he was still his uncle in name and in fact. Feng Qingbai was only asking this for his sake, giving him the chance to decide for himself.

To decide whether Xue Zhong would live or die, and how he would live or die.

His silence wasn’t due to confusion, nor softness of heart. It was just that, looking back on the days when they had depended on each other for survival, he still felt a trace of unwillingness in his heart.

He wanted to know. After all those years together, and after all the effort he had poured out for his uncle, what exactly was he in Xue Zhong’s eyes?

Family? A tool?

Or had there ever been even a single moment when his uncle truly saw him as a nephew?

He remained silent, and the three around him also said nothing, giving him time to think calmly.

“I… I will go to the capital with you.” When Xue Qinglian spoke again after a long while, his voice was a bit hoarse.

Feng Qingbai responded softly, “Mm.”

On his shoulders, Liu Zhixia and Liu Zhiqiu each gave him a pat, offering their comfort and support.

Whatever decision he made, they would always be by his side.

He was grateful these people had appeared in his life. They were friends dearer than family.

And everyone in the Liu family had long treated him as one of their own.

In the second courtyard, there was even a seat reserved especially for him.

Thinking of all this, the gloom that had settled over his heart just moments ago suddenly dispersed.

Xue Qinglian smiled, lazy and languid, with that innate unruliness of his shining through.

“That’s a loose end I should tie up myself. Once it’s done, no matter how things go on your side, I’ll return to Xinghua Village first. I’ve wandered the jianghu for so many years, and this old master’s getting a bit tired. After this, I’ll settle down here to grow old.”