At Third Great-Uncle’s House

“You’re saying that Xiandong said the fake mulberry tree is actually the eucommia tree, and its bark is a type of medicinal herb?” Third Great-Uncle leaned on his walking stick, his voice shaky as he asked.

“Yes. Renhetang in town is buying it—forty wen per jin. And once it’s processed, it can go up to one hundred and forty wen per jin.”

Li Deyou looked impressed. “I think the processing part is kind of tricky, but Xiaohan said she’s about fifty percent sure she can do it. She really is bold.”

“Has Xiandong already sold some to Renhetang?”

“Yes, Brother Xiandong already gave it a try,” Li Deyou said with admiration. “He’s really clever. I never even thought that tree bark could be sold.”

Li Xiandong wasn’t clever. If he was even a little bit sharper, he wouldn’t have ended up practically empty-handed when he was separated from the main family as the eldest son.

Third Great-Uncle gave his youngest grandson a side-eye. Still… maybe being separated wasn’t such a bad thing after all?

“Today, Xiandong brought you all to strip eucommia trees. Did you all learn it? What exactly did Xiandong say back then?”

“Brother Xiandong is really generous. He said he’s only sharing this way of making money with us because we helped him build his house. He even found an excuse, saying he wanted us to help out for a day. But really, he was teaching us the whole time—how to tell if the tree is over ten years old, how to peel the bark.”

Li Deyou paused. “Actually, it was mostly Xiaohan teaching us. Anyway, it turns out the whole village misunderstood Xiandong’s family.”

Third Great-Uncle didn’t bother responding to this grandson. Misunderstood? That reputation didn’t come out of nowhere. Did he think Li Xiandong’s poor reputation just fell from the sky?

How could someone this dense be his grandson?

“Don’t talk about this to anyone outside the family,” Third Great-Uncle said. “I’ll go speak with the clan head.”

But even so, this foolish grandson somehow had foolish luck. As someone who thought of himself as clever, Third Great-Uncle had no choice but to help cover for him.

“Yes,” Li Deyou agreed quickly. Since his grandfather and the clan head were going to handle it, all he had to do was follow instructions.

When third great-uncle arrived at the clan head’s home, Li Xinhe had already told his father, the clan head, everything.

In fact, what Li Xinhe shared was even more detailed than what Li Deyou had said. He emphasized how Li Xiaohan had collected seeds from the eucommia and replanted cuttings after taking the trees down.

“If what you’re saying is true, then Xiaohan really is that clever and kind-hearted?” The clan head sounded half-convinced.

Xiaohan was just a girl, only thirteen years old. No matter how he looked at it, she didn’t seem like someone who could think so far ahead.

But if it wasn’t her, then who? He had interacted with Li Xiandong before—he definitely didn’t have this kind of wisdom.

As for Madam Wang, the clan head didn’t even bother to consider her.

“Mm. The one actually making decisions and giving ideas in their household is Xiaohan.” Li Xinhe had doubted that at first, but eventually, he realized it was simply the truth.

The clan head understood his own son. He wouldn’t have said that unless he was absolutely certain.

For a moment, the clan head didn’t know what to say.

After a long silence, he let out a heavy sigh. “If only Xiaohan were a boy. Our Li clan would have another worthy successor.”

At those words, Li Xinhe couldn’t help but ask himself, If Xiaohan really were a boy… could I even match up to her?

The father and son had different thoughts in their minds. Neither spoke for a while, and silence filled the room.

That silence was broken by Third Great-Uncle’s arrival. “Clan head, I’m here to ask what your thoughts are about the eucommia trees. You’ll have to come up with a plan.”

Balancing the interests of the entire clan with those of individual families, and leading the clan forward—that was something every clan head had to consider and strive toward.

“The fact that Xiandong’s family was willing to share this method with a few others shows they’re a family that values emotion and loyalty,” the clan head said slowly, setting the tone for how the matter should be handled.

People like that shouldn’t be taken advantage of.

“I’m thinking, this eucommia thing won’t stay a secret for long. People are coming and going; everyone can see. And those stripped trees in the mountains? Those can’t be hidden either. Probably because of that, Xiandong’s family told those few people but didn’t insist on keeping it from others. And in this village, everyone’s related somehow—news spreads fast. It won’t be a secret for long.”

“But even so, the clan can’t treat Xiandong like a fool and expect him to give everything away for free. So, for now, we won’t spread word of this. Let Xiandong’s family earn a good amount first. When others in the village start asking about it, I’ll have each household send someone to help out at Xiandong’s for a day, just like Xinhe and Deyou did.”

“This way, I figure in about three or four days, most people will learn about it. And by then, Xiandong will have already gotten the first taste of the profit.”

The clan head spoke slowly, but he tried to consider every aspect of the matter.

Third Great-Uncle nodded and reminded him, “That’s fine, but I must warn you, there will always be people with dark thoughts and bitter hearts.”

People who resent others for having what they lack—there would certainly be those envious in secret.

“Hmph! If anyone feels that way, they can come speak to me. Let’s see who dares complain. It’s just a day’s work, and they get handed a way to make money for nothing. My son Xinhua and your boy Deyou helped Xiandong build his house for half a month. If they dare feel resentful, they’re the ones getting off easy.”

“And those who think they came too late and missed out on earning money—well, why didn’t they generously share their own money-making methods, like when they weave better mats than others and hide the technique instead of teaching it?”

With that, the decision was finalized. Third Great-Uncle asked again, “Alright then, since Xiandong’s matter is settled, what about the trees on the clan’s communal land?”

“Leave them for the future—to support the elderly and the young, fund the clan school, and continue purchasing clan farmland. That’s what our ancestors instructed,” the clan head answered without even needing to think.

“Good. As long as you have a plan. Now, have you called Xiandong over?” As the most respected elder in the clan, even though Li Xiandong had made great contributions, it still wasn’t appropriate for Third Great-Uncle to go invite him personally.

The clan head swallowed nervously. “Third Great-Uncle, there’s something I need to tell you. According to Xinhua, the one actually making the decisions in Xiandong’s household might not be Xiandong—it might be Xiaohan.”

“Impossible.” Third Great-Uncle raised his cane and pointed it at the clan head. “Don’t think just because I’m old that I’ve gone senile. That little girl Xiaohan—how old is she? Just a bit over ten? And you expect me to believe she’s the one running things? Do you think I’m a fool?”

“Third Great-Uncle, she’s thirteen. She only looks small and thin.” The clan head gave a wry smile. “It’s not that I want to believe it, but Xinhua made a convincing case. And besides, do you remember the banquet at Xiandong’s place? The way she greeted the clan, arranged the seating—it was all orderly and generous. Even Xiandong drank too much and lost composure. It was Xiaohan who tricked him with vinegar.”

That banquet had gone so well that, looking back now, both Third Great-Uncle and the clan head realized something was off—it would have taken a capable woman of the household to manage it so perfectly.

Madam Wang?

No. Just looking at her timid, quail-like manner made it clear she wasn’t capable.

Xiandong?

He might be fine working the fields, but asking him to arrange the seating, time the dishes, and guide guests through the house?

No way.

Both the clan head and Third Great-Uncle knew Li Xiandong too well.

Which meant the most unlikely person was, in fact, the most likely.

With a swiftness that defied his age, Third Great-Uncle sharply turned his head and stared piercingly at his grandson, Li Deyou. “You helped build your Brother Xiandong’s house for more than half a month and spent plenty of time with his family. What do you think?”

Li Deyou had been quietly listening on the side and was completely stunned. Now, being suddenly stared at by his grandfather, he got so nervous he stammered, “Ah—Xiaohan? She cooks really well. But…”

He gradually gathered his thoughts and spoke with a bit of dawning realization, “Now that you mention it, it’s not impossible. In Brother Xiandong’s house, whenever Xiaohan wants to do something, no matter how big or small, things always end up going just the way she wants.”

The key was that it all felt natural.

Third Great-Uncle finally felt it was time to take a serious look at this unremarkable young clan member. Thirteen years old, no one guiding her, and yet she had grown into someone like this—she was worth taking seriously.

At Third Great-Uncle’s age, having survived through chaos, he knew better than to look down on a woman.

Even the current empress, as they said, had suffered hardships alongside the emperor.

“In that case, let’s go visit Xiandong’s house together and talk about this eucommia matter.”