“You should think carefully about this. Don’t push yourself too hard—if anything comes up, come find me.”

Ye Zhoushan nodded in agreement. “Uncle, you don’t need to worry about my matters. But the wild boars coming down the mountain is quite unusual. You should still take some people to check it out.”

Zhao Qianjin frowned deeply. Indeed, it wasn’t a drought, and the mountains were lush with vegetation—there was no reason for the wild boars to come down.

During this time, the crowd had also quieted down.

“Young man from the Ye family, our family doesn’t want it.”

The one calling out was Lin Hongxia, whom everyone addressed as Grandma Lin.

“You saved my grandson and the brigade’s crops. I’m not one of those heartless people.”

Grandma Lin’s grandson was the chubby boy who had nearly died under the wild boar’s hooves.

Those who had been clamoring for compensation immediately flushed with embarrassment.

Ye Zhoushan smiled. “Grandma Lin, one thing has nothing to do with the other. As a member of the brigade, I did what I could—it was only what I should have done.”

“But the fact that I owe everyone is real. These things can’t be mixed together.”

“I should give the IOU, and everyone should accept it.”

Grandma Lin was about to say more, but the girl next to her tugged at her sleeve and whispered a few words. Grandma Lin then fell silent.

Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief.

They were afraid she would insist on refusing. If she didn’t take it, others would find it hard to accept as well.

Grandma Lin’s husband was a martyr, and her son was now an army officer.

In Minsheng Brigade, and even in Hongsheng Commune, her family was well-known and respected. Her words carried significant weight.

With the matter settled, things proceeded much more smoothly afterward.

They spent the entire late night writing IOUs for each family, one by one.

When Lan Qingshuang learned that their family was buried in debt, she only sighed and said nothing.

Little Fuman had been sleeping the whole time, not waking up once or even nursing.

The couple grew increasingly worried.

Fortunately, early the next morning, the little one opened her big, round eyes.

She seemed physically fine and even had the energy to disdain her father.

【Wah, Daddy is so ugly he hurts Little Fuman’s eyes! Look at Mommy instead—it’ll cleanse my eyes!】

After another sleepless night, Ye Zhoushan was unshaven, bloodshot-eyed, and disheveled…

Truly, his little cotton-padded jacket was full of holes.

Lan Qingshuang laughed until tears streamed down her face. She hugged her daughter, covering her with kisses and snuggles, then nursed her.

Ye Zhoushan gritted his teeth and went out to clean himself up, making sure he looked refreshed and energetic.

After breakfast, Grandma Deng and Grandma Lin, along with their families, came to visit.

Also present was Aunt Ge, who looked somewhat uncomfortable, likely due to her attitude toward Ye Zhoushan the previous day.

Ye Zhoushan didn’t take it to heart.

Although Ge Xiu had reservations about her husband and mother-in-law’s relentless efforts to help and support Ye Zhoushan, she was still a kind-hearted person. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought gifts or worked tirelessly to help and run errands.

“Aunties, please come in and have a seat. The child and my wife are both awake.”

Everyone responded cheerfully and filed into the room.

Although the Ye family’s house was run-down, the kang was quite large, able to accommodate everyone.

Grandma Deng came every day and didn’t have any particular agenda.

Ge Xiu had brought two ounces of brown sugar for Lan Qingshuang today, partly to apologize for her attitude the day before but also out of genuine concern for Little Fuman.

This family was buried in debt, and their days ahead would be even harder.

Grandma Lin had brought her daughter-in-law, her youngest daughter, and her grandson.

Aside from Dong Jian, who was away serving in the military, these were the only four members of the Dong family at home.

The Dong family’s daughter, Dong Muxiang, was born after her father’s death. Now eighteen, she was in the process of being matched for marriage.

Dong Muxiang was quiet, had attended junior high, and was both hardworking and clever. With her family’s impeccable background, matchmakers had nearly worn out their threshold visiting her.

Grandma Lin wanted to find a good match for her daughter and had yet to agree to any proposals.

It was also Dong Muxiang who had persuaded Grandma Lin the previous day.

The Dong family’s daughter-in-law, Ma Cui, was sharp-tongued and fiery.

But because Dong Dazhuang had been frightened out of his wits the day before and had been dazed and unresponsive ever since, she now looked haggard.

If not for wanting to thank Ye Zhoushan for saving her son’s life, they would have preferred to keep the child at home.

Dong Dazhuang was the Dong family’s only grandson. Due to a mission-related injury, Dong Jian could no longer have children.

So the entire family doted on Dong Dazhuang as if he were the apple of their eye. What happened yesterday had truly terrified the whole household.

“It was my fault yesterday. I shouldn’t have softened and let the child go out, which led to this accident.”

“His father still doesn’t know about it. I’m too ashamed to even call him.”

Grandma Lin’s eyes reddened. This strong-willed old lady was showing vulnerability in front of others for the first time.

Ma Cui also wiped away tears, holding her dazed son at a loss.

Last night, they had secretly visited a spirit medium.

They had spent the entire night trying to call back his soul, but it was useless.

Now they were considering whether to go to the county hospital.

The spirit medium said that repaying the debt might help.

So today, they came first to express their gratitude, then planned to go to the hospital.

Grandma Deng patted Grandma Lin’s hand to comfort her: “Oh, dear sister, don’t cry. And you too, Dazhuang’s mom.”

“The child is just frightened. He’ll be better after a few days of rest.”

“If you keep crying like this, the child will feel even worse.”

Dong Muxiang also felt terrible—her little nephew had been raised by her own hands.

After graduating and returning home, her mother doted on her, and her sister-in-law took care of her, not letting her work in the fields.

She stayed home to handle chores and look after her little nephew.

Since he was a tiny bundle, he had been lively and active, calling “Auntie, auntie” in a way that melted your heart.

But now he was dull and unresponsive, like a wooden puppet—how could anyone not feel heartbroken?

“Brother Ye, Sister Lan, thank you for saving Dazhuang.”

“Please take back this IOU. Yesterday, I persuaded my mother to accept it mainly for the sake of others.”

“Pork is a rare delicacy, and every household values it highly.”

“If my mother had insisted on refusing yesterday, others would have found it difficult to accept as well.”

“It might not have been a big deal at the time, but afterward, they might have held a grudge against Brother Ye.”

“So we thought it best to accept it first and then return it.”

“Everyone knows how important Dazhuang is to us.”

“A single IOU could never repay your kindness, so we brought some things with us.”

“They’re nothing much, just a token of our gratitude.”

“This milk powder was sent by my older brother for Dazhuang. Since Dazhuang doesn’t urgently need it right now, please let Little Fuman have it.”

“The eggs and brown sugar are for you, Sister.”

“Our family will never forget your kindness.”

Lan Qingshuang hurriedly declined: “No, no, these are all precious things. We can’t accept them.”

“Dazhuang is frightened and needs these things now. Please take them back for him.”

“Take back the IOU as well. One thing has nothing to do with the other—you should keep it.”

“What my husband did was just a small gesture. It doesn’t warrant such thanks.”

Dong Muxiang seemed quiet and gentle, but she was decisive in her actions. She directly tore up the IOU.

“Let’s not talk about the IOU anymore. Please accept these gifts, Sister. If not for yourself, then do it for Fuman.”

Ma Cui, her eyes red, nodded: “Yes, Sister-in-law, please accept them. Think of it as helping us. With the child like this, we also want to accumulate more blessings for him.”

With things put this way, Lan Qingshuang didn’t know how to refuse.

Ye Zhoushan smiled helplessly: “Then thank you, Auntie and Sister-in-law.”

Grandma Lin waved her hand: “Don’t thank us. What is there to thank? We should be the ones thanking you.”

(Note: The forms of address here are based on individual relationships.)

The brigade leader’s family hadn’t taken the IOU yesterday, so there was no need to return it today.

After presenting the gifts, everyone began to chat casually.

Little Fuman, nestled in her mother’s arms, perked up her little ears and listened intently.

Back when she was in the Heavenly Pond, she loved lying on the edge of the pond, listening to the immortals chatting in the pavilion by the water. Her love for gossip had been thoroughly cultivated.

The adults’ conversation gradually centered around Dong Dazhuang.

Topics involving supernatural beings were highly taboo, but everyone couldn’t help whispering about them anyway.

They discussed how to summon souls and ward off evil spirits.

Little Fuman strained to hear, even stretching her little neck forward.