As soon as Li Zhong stepped out of the Qiao family’s gate, he shouted to the crowd that hadn’t yet dispersed: “Hey, everyone, don’t leave just yet! Go home and have your family members bring their tools to help with the cooking. Madam Qiao is treating us to a meat feast today! And this afternoon, she’ll be joining us for a hunting trip into the mountains!”

Wang Dakui glanced around before hurrying over and whispering, “Village chief, with Madam Qiao’s enthusiasm, if we go hunting with her, we won’t catch anything!”

“This time is different,” Li Zhong replied. “Madam Qiao said that we are the main hunters this time. She’ll oversee things and won’t interfere unless there’s danger. Whatever we catch, we’ll split the share with her!”

“Really? What’s in it for her?”

“What else? They’re new here and want to build a good relationship with everyone. I think this family is very sincere and kind-hearted.”

“Still, we shouldn’t take advantage of them. The Qiao family won’t be ordinary in the future. Their second son is a scholar. Do you think Madam Qiao looks like a typical bookish person? Yet here she is, hunting in the mountains like us!”

As the conversation went on, the group of hunters got more and more carried away, speaking without restraint.

Seeing this, Li Zhong quickly interrupted, “Enough! If you know he’s a scholar, then who’s to say he won’t become an official one day? What’s wrong with someone being both scholarly and skilled in hunting? If you keep running your mouth, be careful, or you might lose your head!”

The crowd fell silent for a moment and looked at him.

Li Zhong sighed.

These rough men were giving him a headache.

He wasn’t good at long speeches, but he knew that maintaining a good relationship with the Qiao family would do them no harm.

He spoke his mind bluntly, “No matter what happens in the future, think about it—how does the Qiao family compare to the landlords and officials we’ve dealt with before? I’d rather have them as neighbors. It feels more comfortable! If the Qiao family ever needs our help, I won’t hesitate! If women could hold official positions, I’d even want Madam Qiao to be our village chief!”

“Village Chief!!” Wang Dakui exclaimed in shock.

Li Zhong ignored him and walked away, leaving one last remark:
“I’ve delivered my message. Whether you come or not is up to you! If you’re willing to join, eat your meal first, then bring your tools and gather at the village entrance!”

In an instant, the gathered hunters scattered, rushing home to inform their wives, mothers, and children to head to the Qiao residence to help prepare the feast.

Inside the courtyard, Qiao Yunqing and Qiao Xin had clearly heard everything being said outside.

These rough men were openly scheming right at their doorstep—were they supposed to cover their ears and pretend not to hear?

Old Mo and Granny Shi nervously glanced at the Qiao family members.

Seeing that they showed no reaction, they sighed in relief.

These simple-minded hunters were truly something else!

Qiao Yunxin looked at the pile of processed meat on the ground and felt troubled.

He couldn’t help but say what his wife would have said, “Mother, isn’t this too much meat?”

Qiao Xin thought for a moment and suggested, “Let’s keep half of it frozen for later. We’ll send some to the Fan family, and the rest we’ll sell. Eldest and Second Brother, I’ll personally accompany you this afternoon. I also want to inquire about something—whether we can buy Beishan Mountain.”

Qiao Yunxin was so shocked that he almost dropped his knife. “You want to buy Beishan?” Everyone in the courtyard looked at Qiao Xin in astonishment.

“That’s my plan,” Qiao Xin confirmed. “So I need you to find out whether it’s possible to purchase it.”

“But, Mother, the Qingyang Academy is on Beishan. It might be difficult to handle,” Qiao Yunqing hesitated, knowing some of Beishan’s history.

Beishan had once been home to the Xueyuan Academy, a prestigious school founded by a great scholar of the previous dynasty.

It had flourished in its time.

However, both the current emperor and the last emperor had studied there in their youth.

The academy had later become entangled in political struggles and suffered during the chaotic years.

As student numbers dwindled, the institution gradually fell into ruin.

The last headmaster eventually dismissed the remaining teachers and students, and the academy shut down completely.

Strictly speaking, Beishan was now just a desolate ruin.

However, because of its ties to the emperor, no one dared to touch it.

In a past life, a wealthy merchant had turned the academy into a private estate, only to have his entire family executed.

But Qiao Yunqing knew that the current emperor actually hoped someone would restore the academy’s former glory.

Qiao Xin explained her thoughts: “Why would that be a problem? I don’t want to buy the academy itself—just the forested land on Beishan. The academy can remain untouched as a historical site. If we buy the mountain, I plan to turn it into an orchard. But if the government allows it, I’d also be willing to purchase the academy and rebuild it as a new school. That way, children from Laohu Town can study there instead of letting it go to waste.”

“We’ll ask around. If it’s not possible, then we’ll find another plan.”

“But, Mother, we don’t seem to have enough money for this. Does that mean we won’t clear new farmland next year?”

Qiao Xin sighed. “That’s why we’re asking first. What’s there to be afraid of? If we don’t have money, I’ll earn more! And farming doesn’t interfere with orchard work. I just want to have my own orchard to grow fruit that I like. We can sell the harvest in Weizhou or enjoy it ourselves! You wouldn’t understand—back in the day, I never lacked fresh fruit all year round.”

The others assumed Qiao Xin was referring to her childhood, but Qiao Yunqing knew what she really meant.

Life here was vastly different from what she had been used to.

“We’ll find out. If you want to buy it, Mother, then we’ll buy it. If the money isn’t enough, we’ll earn it together!”

Qiao Xin smiled. “Alright!”

Zhang Shi glanced between her mother-in-law and husband, feeling like they had both lost their minds.

They were talking about buying an entire mountain!

Was that even possible?

She opened her mouth to speak but, noticing her quiet Eldest sister-in-law, hesitated and kept her thoughts to herself.

When Qiao Yunqing said he would ask around, he wasn’t just saying it for show.

At the Fan family estate, Housekeeper Fang was surprised when he was informed that someone had sent wild boar meat to the manor.

“I thought it was impossible to buy meat these days? Who sent it?”

“I believe their surname is Qiao,” the assistant manager recalled.

“Qiao?” Housekeeper Fang froze.

No one in the manor had that surname—except…

Suddenly, he remembered—wasn’t Madam Qiao known for her hunting skills?

Why hadn’t the assistant reported this sooner?

By the time he rushed to the side gate, the three Qiao brothers were already about to leave with their cart.

“Master Qiao, Second Master, Third Master, please wait! Why didn’t you send word through the main entrance? Our master has been thinking about you all! How is the old lady at home?” Housekeeper Fang hurriedly tried to stop them.

“We heard your master wasn’t home, so we didn’t want to disturb you,” Qiao Yunqing replied calmly.

“Oh, the higher-ups called him away for business. The old master has also gone to visit the family estate. I already sent word to inform them. Why don’t you come inside for a warm cup of tea? The weather is freezing, and your visit wasn’t easy.”

Since the master wasn’t home, the Qiao brothers had no intention of staying.

Besides, judging from the earlier attitude of the assistant manager, it seemed like their presence wasn’t particularly welcome.

If that was the case, they might not visit the Fan estate often in the future.

Housekeeper Fang was desperate. “At least join me for a drink at Chunfeng Tavern! If you leave without entering the manor, I’ll be in serious trouble!”

Qiao Yunqing, however, had something else to ask him instead.