Chapter 24

Because they feared that Wei Army might suddenly lead his troops here, everyone had been anxious for the past two days. It wasn’t until the early hours of the third day, when the main forces arrived that this tense atmosphere finally eased.

The soldiers were busy transporting supplies, and Liu Qianhu pulled Zuo Qi aside, patting him on the shoulder with admiration in his eyes. “Finding the missing provisions, this is a great contribution to our left camp.”

Zuo Qi replied, “This is not my merit.”

Liu Qianhu’s large eyes widened. “You brought the men here, you found the prisoners and the supplies, and you subdued the enemy. You’re one of us in the left camp; how can you say it’s not our merit?”

Seeing that Zuo Qi didn’t respond, Liu Qianhu grabbed him by the collar. “The right camp is already breathing down our necks. If we don’t achieve something soon, our people will be scattered and integrated into the right camp. Then, even you and I will have to bow to them!”

Zuo Qi turned to look at the pear blossom father and daughter in the distance but said nothing.

Liu Qianhu said, “This is not difficult. I’ll handle it.”

Zuo Qi’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stopped him. “I’ll handle it.”

Meanwhile, Pear Blossom received a system notification: “Pear Blossom, Liu Qianhu doesn’t want the higher-ups to know that you were the one who found your father and the supplies.”

Pear Blossom hadn’t planned to take any credit. Her purpose in coming here was simply to find her father; she hadn’t thought of anything else. So, she asked, “Can Zuo Qi take the credit for this?”

The system replied, “Yes, Liu Qianhu wants Zuo Qi to take the credit.”

Pear Blossom sighed in relief. “As long as it’s Zuo Qi, it doesn’t matter.”

If it weren’t for Zuo Qi, she would never have reached this place, let alone save her father. 
Moreover, since Zuo Qi was connected to Sister Dong, she was also willing to let him take the credit.

She turned to her father and said, “Dad, if anyone asks, just say it was Left Baihu who saved you, and it has nothing to do with me.”

Xiang Dagen, who was somewhat slow-witted, had originally been very pleased with his daughter finding the cave and the supplies, thinking it was a great achievement. However, after hearing her words, he suddenly recalled the chaotic situation in the camp, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

They were small soldiers from the right camp, while Liu Qianhu and Zuo Qi were from the left camp. This contribution would surely cause a dispute between the two factions. 

As a lowly soldier, his words wouldn’t matter much, but if his daughter were dragged into the conflict between the factions, it could be disastrous.

He quickly stepped back and whispered with his comrades. Their expressions became serious, and they nodded repeatedly.

Without waiting for Zuo Qi and Liu Qianhu to approach, Xiang Dagen hurriedly led his comrades forward to express his gratitude. “We owe our survival this time to Left Baihu’s timely arrival. 

We are deeply grateful. We also celebrate that Liu Qianhu has recovered the lost provisions and made a great contribution.”

Liu Qianhu was first stunned, then, with a gleam in his eye, laughed heartily and stepped forward to help Xiang Dagen up. “We’re all comrades, no need for such politeness. Get up quickly. Dagen, you are a blessed man. If you survive this great disaster, there will surely be future fortune.”

Xiang Dagen, hearing the words “future fortune,” thought of his eldest son, who had replaced him in military service, and he couldn’t help but smile bitterly, though he kept agreeing with Liu Qianhu.

Liu Qianhu turned to Pear Blossom and said, “I heard from our Left Baihu that you followed him secretly on this mission. You’re quite a fearless little girl. But military tasks cannot be taken lightly. Don’t do this again next time.”

Pear Blossom quickly responded with a crisp “Yes.”

Seeing that they were being sensible, Liu Qianhu felt pleased, patting Zuo Qi on the shoulder before stepping aside to allow them to continue speaking.

Zuo Qi had spent several days with Pear Blossom and her father and always thought of them as big fools and little fools. However, he hadn’t realized how perceptive they actually were. After all, this was taking credit for someone else’s achievement. 

Even though the situation had forced his hand, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. He called Pear Blossom aside and handed her a 100-tael silver note. “It’s a good thing you didn’t get involved. Go home and live a good life.”

Pear Blossom had never seen silver notes, so the system quickly explained them to her. When she heard that one hundred taels could buy a lot of food, she immediately smiled so broadly that her teeth were visible but her eyes weren’t, and she accepted them without hesitation.

Isn’t this more practical than any kind of credit or merit?

Zuo Qi saw her silly expression, and even his rough face showed a barely perceptible smile.

Pear Blossom remembered the dagger Zuo Qi had given her earlier and quickly took it out to return it.

Zuo Qi shook his head. “Keep it. It’s for your protection.”

Pear Blossom was overjoyed. Nowadays, knives are strictly controlled, and iron tools are especially expensive. Every household could spend hundreds of copper coins on a simple iron pot or kitchen knife. 

Even in her own home, they didn’t have a proper iron tool. Zuo Qi, however, had given her this sharp dagger. How could she not be happy? Next time there was danger or she went hunting, she wouldn’t need to worry.

After she tucked everything away, she asked Zuo Qi, “Can you give my father a few days off to handle some family matters?”

While waiting for reinforcements, Zuo Qi had also learned about the strange events in Pear Blossom’s family, so he said, “Wait here, I’ll go speak to Liu Qianhu.”

When Liu Qianhu heard that the son of Xiang Dagen had been sent to the military camp at the age of thirteen, he immediately stormed over with a grim expression.

“What’s going on?”

Xiang Dagen hurriedly explained how his parents and brothers had changed the age of their son Daniu to send him to the military camp. The soldiers around them were outraged.

Xiang Dagen and his daughter were in the right, so Liu Qianhu was more than willing to help them. With a stern face, he said, “This is outrageous. Don’t worry, Dagen, I’ll handle it. I guarantee your son will be back home safely in two days. 

As for who will serve in the military from your family, that’s your own business. I can’t intervene in that, but I’ll speak to the right camp and give you two weeks to handle it. You can relax.”

Xiang Dagen was overjoyed when he heard this. He had wanted to ask for leave to go home for a long time, but the last time he returned to the camp, his requests for leave were denied, and he was sent out on a mission instead. Now, Liu Qianhu had granted his request with a simple word, and he couldn’t help but feel emotional.

On the fourth night, Pear Blossom and Xiang Dagen returned home. When Xiong saw her husband, who had miraculously come back from the dead, standing at the door, she was both shocked and overjoyed. After several days of emotional turmoil, she immediately fainted.

The two families of the Xiang family, along with others, cried out in terror, running around the courtyard in panic.

Xiang Dagen immediately began smashing things as soon as he entered the house. From the main room to the room of the elderly couple, he threw everything in sight, even overturning the ancestral tablet.

The elderly couple had no excuse, but this was how they had been treating the first branch of the family for many years. 

At this point, it was too late to back out, so they thickened their faces and admitted their fault. 

The father and sons stepped forward to stop Xiang Dagen from continuing his destruction.

Xiang Dagen was tall and strong and had been on the battlefield. How could he be afraid of these mud-legged people?

However, he still spared the elderly couple’s lives and didn’t directly hit them but beat Xiang Laoer so badly that he couldn’t get out of bed.

Soon, everyone in Daliushu Village knew that Xiang Dagen had not died. A crowd gathered in front of the Xiang family’s house, discussing the situation. Some people cursed the elderly couple for their lack of virtue, while others made sarcastic remarks.

Mrs. Xiang, seeing the ancestral tablet on the ground, took advantage of the fact that Xiang Dagen dared not hit her and began shouting loudly.

Xiang Dagen angrily said, “The reason we didn’t divide the family earlier was because I was worried that if something happened to me, Daniu would be too young to serve in the military. 

But now, even though we haven’t divided the family, you still don’t care and sent my son to take my place. I can’t stay in this family any longer. Even if the court sends me to prison, I still want to divide the family.”

Lao Xiang sat, puffing on his dry tobacco, looking at the chaotic state of the family, his brow furrowed.

Mrs. Xiang continued angrily, “There will be no dividing of the family. We’re still here. No one is allowed to divide the family.”

Xiang Laosan had returned as well and stepped forward to say, “While the elders are still here, the children must not act on their own.”

The newly promoted scholar and wealthy Liu family’s grandson, Liu Qiming, also came to watch. Seeing Xiang Laosan spewing some flowery language, he scoffed in disdain.

Xiang Laosan, feeling embarrassed that his family’s shame was being pointed out by others and that a younger, better-educated person was looking down on him, blushed with shame.

At the same time, Xiang Dagen sneered, “If you won’t divide the family, then you can go serve in the military.”

Upon hearing this, people from the second and third branches of the family fell silent.

Xiang Dalang, who was a tough one, stood up and sneered at Xiang Dagen, “What will you do if you keep being this arrogant? If my grandfather orders your first branch to serve in the military, you have no choice but to go. What, are you going to kill my grandfather?”

At these words, everyone gasped in shock, and their eyes involuntarily shifted to Xiang Dagen.

Xiang Dagen felt helpless. Xiang Laotou was the head of the family, and if he reported that Xiang Dagen should serve in the military, the authorities would come to take him. The law of the court encouraged families not to divide, and if a son proposed division, he would be punished. 

These laws weighed heavily on Xiang Dagen, leaving him feeling trapped and frustrated.

But as Xiang Dalang had said, could he really kill Xiang Laotou?

Xiang Dagen could only suppress his anger for now. If things got worse, he had another method to deal with it, but he couldn’t use it unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, he still had more than ten days to think of a solution.

…
Liu Qianhu kept his word, and Daniu was quickly released and his official records restored to his original age. 

However, as part of the military agreement, the Xiang family still had to send someone to serve in the military, and Xiang Laotou stubbornly reported Xiang Dagen.

Xiang Dagen was extremely disappointed. The first branch of the family completely stopped working in the fields. Xiang Laotou and his wife dared not stop them, and the first branch finally had some rare free.

Pear Blossom returned the token and thirty taels of silver to Dong Yun. When Dong Yun asked her what had happened, Pear Blossom, having long forgotten Liu Qianhu’s instructions and not regarding Dong Yun as an outsider, spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.  

A look of surprise briefly crossed Dong Yun’s face, but it disappeared quickly. She just smiled and said, “Now that you’ve returned the money, I can’t exactly ask you to work for me anymore.”  
Pear Blossom hurriedly replied, “What’s wrong with asking me for help? If you need anything, just say the word. I won’t lift a finger for the Xiang family anymore, and neither will my mother.”  

Dong Yun nodded. “With the autumn harvest just over a month away, I might really need your help then.”  

The Zeng family had ten acres of land. The second son of the family was studying elsewhere, draining money like water. Mrs. Zeng couldn’t bear to lease the land out, so she and her daughter-in-law worked on it themselves. 

Mrs. Zeng was an experienced farmer, but Dong Yun was a novice. Although she had gradually gotten the hang of it over the past year or two, managing such a large plot of land with just the two of them was exhausting.  

Fortunately, in past years, Mrs. Zeng’s eldest daughter would come over with her husband to help after taking care of their own harvest. The second eldest, Zeng Guangjin, also returned home during the harvest break to help gather the rice. Somehow, they managed to scrape by.  

Hearing Dong Yun’s words, Pear Blossom laughed and said, “Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.”  

This time, after bringing her father and Daniu back home, the system rewarded her with 20 points, making her so happy she could fly. Still, she couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty as she asked the system, “I only managed to save my dad thanks to your help with the location. How did I still earn so many points?”  

The system replied, “Technically, it was my help, but if it had been someone else, they might not have been able to find your father. Earlier, you saved Dong Yun with your courage, and she was moved by your filial piety and determination. 

That’s why she gave you the token that allowed you to meet Zuo Qi. This was your karma and fortune. You also endured the long journey without complaint, faced danger with calm and bravery, and showed qualities most people couldn’t. 

Your courage, resilience, filial piety, and perseverance are worth 20 points. This reward is also meant to encourage you.”  

Having grown up being scolded by Mrs.  Xiang as a “money-losing girl” and mocked as a fool by adults and children in the village, Pear Blossom had no idea she had so many virtues. Hearing the system list them all made her incredibly happy.  

The system added, “Out of the 20 points, five are fixed to your reputation score. Even though others took the credit, those present know the truth, so you still earned this wave of reputation. As for the remaining 15 points, where would you like to allocate them?”  

After thinking it over, Pear Blossom said, “Add 10 points to intelligence and 5 points to physique.”  

After allocating the points, Pear Blossom immediately felt that her body seemed to improve slightly, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.  

The system continued, “As of now, your intelligence is 19, your physique is 11, and your reputation is 12. Your total is 42 points. You’re only 8 points away from your first lottery draw. Keep it up!”  

Hearing this, Pear Blossom’s heart raced with excitement. She had been looking forward to the lottery for a long time.  

The system asked, “What reward would you like to draw?”  

Pear Blossom replied, “A Beauty pill.”  

The system was overjoyed. Previously, when it introduced the rewards, Pear Blossom hadn’t shown any interest in beauty products, only asking for strength pills and invisibility cloaks, which had worried it greatly. Now that she wanted a Beauty pill, how could it not be thrilled? 
 
However, Pear Blossom remained silent. She certainly wouldn’t tell the system that the Beauty pill was actually for her mother.  

Her mother was only 34 years old. She had married into the Xiang family as a teenager and hadn’t had a single good day since. 

She was constantly worked to the bone by Mrs.  Xiang, managing both the fields and the household. She had given birth to four children, all of whom she raised herself without proper postpartum care. During childbirth, she hadn’t even had enough to eat. 

Though she had some natural resilience, the recent series of blows had completely worn her down. She now looked far older than her years, even more haggard than her rough-hewn husband, Daniu.  

Pear Blossom felt deeply sorry for her mother. She knew how hard life was for women in this era. If she had anything good, of course, she would give it to her mother first. As for Dong Yun, she was already beautiful and didn’t need a Beauty pill.  

…
In recent days, the eldest son of the wealthy Liu family, Liu Qiming, had just received the news that he had passed the scholar examination. 

The celebratory announcement had arrived at their home. Previously, they had received word through an intermediary, but now that the official notification had arrived, the Liu family was busy slaughtering pigs and sheep to host a feast for the villagers.  

Although the Liu family wasn’t among the wealthiest households in Daliushu Village, they were considered minor landlords, owning over a hundred acres of land rented out to the villagers. 

They lived comfortably and now had the added prestige of a scholar in the family, making their home a place of joy and celebration.  

Naturally, Pear Blossom wouldn’t miss the chance to attend the feast. She took her younger siblings to enjoy several meals.  

However, the Liu family’s patriarch wasn’t particularly generous.  

As the saying goes, “Half-grown boys can eat you out of house and home.” With so many children in the village, one group finished eating and switched tables, only to be replaced by the next. Watching them eat made him visibly distressed, and he began to speak rudely.  

Daniu and Xinghua, both at a growing age, had just finished at one table and were about to join another when Old man Liu spotted them. Recognizing them as Xiang family children, he snapped, “Don’t your parents feed you? You eat like starving ghosts. No matter how much food we have, it won’t be enough for you to waste!”  

He wouldn’t have said such things to adults, but to children, he showed no restraint.  

Pear Blossom felt pangs of bitterness. While every child in the vicinity ate like this, he singled out the Xiang children for criticism.  

After all, if he couldn’t afford to host such a feast, he could have just invited everyone for one meal. There was no need to put on airs of generosity while begrudging the cost.

The others, after hearing Old man Liu’s words, looked at the siblings with contempt.

Daniu and Xinghua, feeling humiliated, went back home and told Xiong. Xiong, with tears in her eyes, turned to Xiang Dagen and said, “Your parents are tormenting us. The children are in their growing years and don’t get enough to eat at home, so they have to eat outside. Now they’ve even been humiliated for it. How are we supposed to live like this?”

Xiang Dagen lowered his head, unable to say a word. From the side, Pear Blossom spoke, “Since it’s a communal feast, everyone eats the same way wherever they are. It’s not just Daniu and Xinghua eating like this. Old man Liu specifically picked on our kids because he thinks we’re easy targets.”

Xiang Dagen, his eyes red, said, “It’s all because I’m useless. I let you be born into this family, living such a life. Because you’re my children, our family will have to serve in the military for generations, with no end…”

Hearing this, Xiong quickly hugged her husband’s arm and comforted him, “This isn’t your fault. It’s your parents’ cruelty, not treating you like their son.”

Daniu and Xinghua, feeling as if they’d done something wrong, looked guilt-ridden and couldn’t sleep that night, tossing and turning in bed.

Watching all this, Pear Blossom felt deeply distressed but didn’t know how to help the family.

In the middle of the night, just as she was about to fall asleep, the system called out to her.

“Host, there’s a situation.”

Startled, Pear Blossom asked, “What’s going on?”

“Mrs. Xiang is going to see Liu Youcai.”

“Who’s Liu Youcai?” Pear Blossom mumbled in her half-asleep state.

“Liu Youcai is Liu Qiming’s father. Liu Qiming is the only scholar in Daliushu Village.”

Pear Blossom’s mind slowly cleared, and she asked in confusion, “Why would Mrs. Xiang go to the scholar’s father so late at night? To have an affair?”

“Pfft, pfft, pfft—” The system retched in disgust. “Mrs. Xiang is old enough to be Liu Youcai’s mother. How could it be an affair?”

“No, wait. Mrs. Xiang is Liu Youcai’s mother.”

Hearing this, Pear Blossom was dumbfounded. “Mrs. Xiang is my dad’s mother. How did she suddenly become Liu Youcai’s mother?”

“I just found out too,” the system replied, recounting everything it overheard to Pear Blossom.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Liu Youcai, who had been drinking heavily to celebrate his son’s scholarly success, broke into a cold sweat upon hearing Mrs. Xiang’s words. His intoxication vanished, and with his heart pounding, he shouted angrily, “You wretched old hag! My Liu family has never meddled with your Xiang family. 

How dare you spout nonsense and spread rumors here? Watch yourself, or I’ll beat you up without caring about village decorum!”

Mrs. Xiang looked at the man before her, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. “I know it’s hard for you to accept right now, but it’s the absolute truth that you’re your parents’ son. 

You should be grateful to your real parents. If we hadn’t switched you, you’d be the one serving in the military today, and there’s no way you’d have raised a scholar son like yours.”

“Shut up! I am a son of the Liu family! I am Liu Tong’s eldest son, and Qiming is my son. I have nothing to do with your Xiang family.”

Unlike her usual fiery demeanor, Mrs. Xiang was unusually calm tonight. Perhaps the fierce look she usually wore was reserved for the main household. She shook her head. “You were born from my womb after ten months of pregnancy, and I was the one who switched you. 

We’re from the same village—I watched you grow up. You have a bite mark on your backside from your father. How could I not recognize my own son?”

Liu Youcai’s voice trembled. “Stop spouting nonsense! I have nothing to do with you. You’re just trying to climb the Liu family’s ladder because my son became a scholar. You’re a lunatic—what are you really after?”

Mrs. Xiang took two steps closer, but Liu Youcai backed away as if he’d seen a ghost. Helpless, she stopped and said, “Don’t blame your parents. They did it for your sake. 

By switching you, the Liu family’s descendants ended up serving in the military, while your son was able to attend the county academy and become a scholar.”

“No—! You’re lying. I don’t believe you—I don’t believe you—! Get out! Get out!” Liu Youcai’s mind buzzed.

Ignoring his hysterics, Mrs. Xiang remained composed. In her eyes, blood ties were undeniable. No matter how much he denied it, their bond as mother and son couldn’t be erased.

“I came here tonight just to remind you to tell your scholar son not to forget his roots. For the sake of the Xiang family, I’ll take this secret to my grave. Only your father and I know about this. Unless—unless my eldest grandson truly earns a title and removes the ‘military service’ mark from the Xiang family. When that day comes, it’ll be our Xiang family’s time to hold our heads high.”

“No—” Liu Youcai collapsed, his legs giving out, almost fainting.