The loafer was just thinking about how to quickly and discreetly rob Li Xiandong and his daughter when a child of about seven or eight years old, with a runny nose, suddenly ran up to him and blocked his path.

“Fifth Brother, Big Brother wants you to go back,” the kid said.

“Get lost. I’m handling serious business here,” the man called Fifth Brother replied impatiently with a wave of his hand.

“Big Brother said you’re not allowed to do whatever serious business you’re thinking of. Go back now or he’ll cut off your hand!” the child shouted, then turned and ran off.

“I should be the one cutting off your hand!” the loafer yelled angrily, but he couldn’t catch up to the small, nimble child.

“This is serious business… Damn it, why’d this have to happen at a critical moment? And Big Brother, seriously? Sending that runny-nosed brat to pass the message? What would a little kid even understand…”

Muttering to himself, Fifth Brother hesitated for a moment, then stomped his foot in frustration and reluctantly turned back.

“Big Brother, what did you call me back for? I’ll tell you, I’ve got my eyes on a newly-rich farmer. Sure, people like that won’t make us a fortune, but they’re a safe target. He’s just an old farmer with no background or connections. If we rob him, that’s the end of it. There won’t be any consequences.”

“You think I’d break the rules? I know, I know—we don’t take someone’s life-saving money. But I checked carefully. That farmer went to the medicine shop to sell herbs, not to get treated. Big Brother, let’s go now. If we hurry, we can still catch him outside the city.”

This so-called Big Brother, judging by Fifth Brother’s status, was clearly a gang leader. Normally, someone like that would either look sly and untrustworthy, like the loafer, or large and muscular, with a rough, imposing build.

But this Big Brother wore a simple grey cotton robe. At first glance, he looked like a lean soldier. Only the sharp glint in his eyes gave away the fact that he was not someone to mess with—he wasn’t just physically capable, but also extremely cunning.

After hearing Fifth Brother out, Big Brother didn’t get angry. He simply said, “Fifth Brother, do you even know who you’ve been watching?”

“Who? Don’t tell me I misjudged it. Isn’t he just a farmer?” Fifth Brother asked, puzzled.

That couldn’t be. With his sharp eyes, he’d seen all kinds of people. He couldn’t be that wrong.

“He is a farmer—but not just any farmer,” Big Brother said. “Have you heard the recent news from Pingshan Village about eucommia tree bark being worth money?”

“Of course I have. We were just a step behind. Otherwise, the whole mountain would be a pile of silver. Did you see how rich that old farmer is? Even the furniture in his home is something most people in the city can’t afford.”

“Do you know who discovered the value of those eucommia trees? A farmer named Li Xiandong. And his family? They’ve been freely teaching the other farmers how to harvest and process the bark.”

“I know,” Fifth Brother muttered.

Honestly, he thought the man was a bit too generous. If it were him, he’d have kept the fortune for himself.

“I know what you’re thinking. But it’s not so easy to keep the profits to yourself. Those eucommia trees stand out too much. Even if he wanted to monopolize it, he couldn’t. And from what I heard, his household is run by a stepmother. So once you throw in family expectations and clan pressure, even if he wanted to keep the method to himself, he couldn’t. Look at him now—he’s probably made a lot of money, earned a name for himself, and won the goodwill of many. I even heard that next year, his family plans to teach others how to cultivate the trees. So if something were to happen to Li Xiandong—if he got robbed or killed—do you think the Li clan and all the people who benefited from his generosity would just sit back and do nothing?”

“Probably not…”

Especially if it affects their livelihood for the next year, they definitely wouldn’t sit idle.

Even if it weren’t about profit, no one would stand by and watch a clan member or benefactor get bullied without retaliating. Otherwise, they’d be seen as cowards with no backbone or conscience.

“Exactly. So today, the person you’ve been targeting is Li Xiandong. Now you tell me—if you go through with it, can our group handle the backlash from those farmers?”

“I got it, Big Brother.”

There was no need to offend a bunch of peasants.

A single peasant wasn’t scary, but a large group of them wasn’t to be underestimated. They just wanted to collect protection money and rob the rich a little—not get anyone killed, and especially not themselves.

“Go on, then. And make sure to warn the others,” Big Brother instructed.

In truth, there was more Big Brother hadn’t said aloud.

That method of processing eucommia bark? The Li family had learned it from Renhetang. And most of the eucommia bark being harvested was sold straight to Renhetang. In other words, Li Xiandong had already formed a quiet connection with them.

And Renhetang? It was part of Madam Zhang’s dowry—the wife of Commander Zhang Zhen, who served under Prince Ding. A woman’s dowry purchasing so many medicinal ingredients? Highly suspicious.

There were rumors that the medicine from Renhetang was being sent to the front lines to support her husband and eldest son. So interfering with the supply of medicine supporting her family? That was playing with fire—and not something Madam Zhang would take lightly.

Moreover, it was said that Madam Zhang’s health had declined recently, and management of Renhetang had been handed over to her second son.

New officials like to make bold moves. Although the second son had a gentle and scholarly reputation, word on the street said that anyone who’d seriously crossed him might not see immediate consequences—but down the line, their end would be especially miserable. People like that weren’t to be underestimated.

So if something were to happen to Li Xiandong, would Renhetang respond? Big Brother couldn’t say for sure.

They were just people who operated in the shadows. There was no reason to make enemies of those in power.

As for Li Xiaohan, she had no idea just how many hidden threads had been pulled since her family discovered eucommia. But like a butterfly, after fluttering her wings, she blissfully flew on—completely unaware of the storm left in her wake.

At this moment, Li Xiandong was driving the ox cart while Li Xiaohan sat in the back, steadying the bolts of cloth they had bought. The cart swayed gently as they headed back toward Pingshan Village.

Halfway there, they suddenly spotted a familiar figure up ahead carrying a pole with baskets on each end. It looked like there were two little kids peeking out from each basket. Beside them was a woman with a basket on her back, filled with goods.

Li Xiaohan squinted to get a better look and asked, “Father, isn’t that Uncle Dashan and Aunt Dashan up ahead?”

Li Xiaohan more or less remembered Aunt Dashan. She was a very capable woman who had once learned to stir-fry eucommia from her. Her personality was a bit like her mother’s. She always kept her head down, working quietly without saying much. Even if you asked her to rest, she would just give a shy smile and continue working.

If that was Aunt Dashan, then the man beside her must be Uncle Dashan. And judging by the two kids in the baskets, it was likely them.

“Mhm,” Li Xiandong squinted and nodded. “That’s your Uncle Dashan.”

Li Dashan had learned to harvest eucommia bark from Li Xiandong. He was quiet, but he worked quickly and didn’t shy away from hard labor. Li Xiandong appreciated people like that.

After getting her father’s confirmation, Li Xiaohan called out loudly, “Uncle Dashan, Aunt Dashan, wait up!”

Sure enough, the two people up ahead stopped and turned around.

The ox cart soon caught up. Li Dashan and his wife looked at Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan with a warm, honest smile.

“Brother Xiandong.”

“Xiaohan.”

“Dashan!”

Li Xiaohan grinned and said, “Uncle Dashan, Aunt Dashan, put the kids and your things on the cart. We’ll give you a ride.”

It was only when they got closer that they saw the two little kids were indeed sitting in the baskets. That’s why only the tops of their heads were visible from behind. They looked around six or seven years old, skinny, with wide eyes full of shyness and curiosity as they stared at them.

“That’s right. Go ahead and put the kids up here,” Li Xiandong replied, finally understanding.

“Ah, won’t this trouble you?” Li Dashan asked, looking embarrassed, his dark face showing hesitation.

“It’s no trouble. You went to town to sell eucommia bark? Took the kids along too?” Li Xiandong stopped the ox cart. “Put the kids up here.”

When he mentioned eucommia bark, his voice held a certain authority. Li Dashan listened obediently.

“Yes, we figured we’d sell it before it gets too cold. We need the money to get through winter,” Dashan said, lifting the two kids out of the baskets and placing them on the cart. “Hua’er, Niu’er, get on the cart and behave.”

Li Xiaohan had already made room and greeted the kids with a warm smile. The older one, a girl, smiled back, revealing two missing front teeth. The younger boy nestled shyly against his sister.

They were cute, aside from being a bit too thin.

“Aunt Dashan, you can put the basket up here too,” Li Xiaohan offered.

“No need, no need,” Li Dashan quickly waved his hands, switching the heavy basket onto his own back. Aunt Dashan picked up the now-empty baskets.

“I’ll carry it. Don’t want to tire out the ox.”

The corner of Li Xiaohan’s mouth twitched. She had forgotten that, in these times, oxen were more valuable than people.

Clearly, Li Xiandong agreed with that mindset. With a light flick of his bamboo whip, the cart started moving again. Li Xiaohan gave up trying to convince them.

The ox cart moved slowly. Now free from carrying the kids, Dashan and his wife walked briskly alongside. The adults remained silent.

“What are your names?” Li Xiaohan asked gently. She already knew they were called Hua’er and Niu’er, but from what little she knew about children, asking their names was usually the first step in making friends.

“Sister Xiaohan, I’m Hua’er. My little brother is Niu’er.”

“You know who I am?”

“Mm-hmm.” The little girl nodded seriously, her big eyes staring straight ahead. “I know it. Mother always says at home that Sister Xiaohan is impressive. She tells me to learn from you so I can become someone great too.”

Li Xiaohan turned red. She didn’t expect her reputation to have spread. She glanced at Aunt Dashan, surprised that such a quiet woman would say these things to her children.

Aunt Dashan’s expression looked especially unnatural. Because her skin was dark, it was hard to tell whether she was blushing, but her eyes kept darting away, and her head was lowered so much it nearly touched her chest. She didn’t dare make any eye contact with Li Xiaohan.

“Sister Xiaohan, when I grow up, can I learn how to roast eucommia bark from you?” Hua’er asked. “Mother says you’re the best at it. I want to learn from the best.”

“Of course. Once you’re tall enough to stand at the stove, come find me,” Li Xiaohan said generously.

“I want to learn too,” said Niu’er, who had been quiet all this time.

“Alright, you too,” Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

The kids chattered away. The adults remained silent, but their lips curled upward in small smiles.

Then suddenly, a loud gurgle broke the peace.

Li Xiaohan looked over curiously and saw the youngest child, Niu’er, holding his stomach with his small hands. His wide eyes were full of tears.

“See? I told you to eat more before we left this morning. But you insisted you weren’t hungry and only had a little. Now you’re embarrassed,” Hua’er said, pretending to be mature as she sighed.

Tears welled up even more in Niu’er’s eyes.

He was ashamed of losing face in front of Sister Xiaohan, the one they looked up to the most.

Li Xiaohan let out a gentle laugh and reached into the basket beside her. She was about to open the pastries she had bought, but on second thought, she pulled out the flatbreads that her mother had made for her and her father that morning.

“Here, have a snack,” she said, offering the fragrant, slightly oily flatbreads. The smell made Niu’er’s stomach growl louder.

“N-no need. Let him drink some water instead. We’re almost home,” Aunt Dashan said awkwardly while pulling out a worn waterskin and shaking her head.

Niu’er looked up at his mother, not daring to take the food.

“No need to be shy, Aunt Dashan. My mother made these multigrain flatbreads. They’re not store-bought. Let the kids try them.”

“This…” Aunt Dashan looked troubled. She should have brought some food, but it was her first time taking both children out of the village, and she forgot that kids can’t endure hunger like adults. She felt awkward if she accepted, but seeing her child hungry made her feel even worse if she refused.

“If it makes you feel better, just give us some vegetable seeds in return when we get back,” Li Xiaohan said. “I heard you’re great at growing vegetables and saving seeds. You know we just moved, and we don’t have seeds for many things.”

That did the trick. Aunt Dashan looked visibly relieved. “Oh, sure, no problem. We have seeds for most common vegetables.”

“Then I’ll trouble you Aunt Dashan,” Li Xiaohan said with a bright, sincere smile.

It was just like the sun, warm and radiant. Later, both Hua’er and Niu’er would remember this moment and describe it just that way.

“Here, Niu’er, take one. Hua’er, you too.”

The kids looked up at their mother. Aunt Dashan nodded with a shy smile, and finally, they each took a flatbread and started eating.

“Wow, Sister Xiaohan’s flatbreads are so good!”

“Right? Have another if you want.”

Madam Wang might’ve had a natural talent for cooking. With Li Xiaohan’s guidance and Doctor Zhang’s advice to use more oil and ingredients for nourishment, her skills had improved rapidly. It was no surprise these flatbread won the kids over instantly.

At the three-way split in the road in the village, they had to part ways. The kids were clearly reluctant to leave. To them, Sister Xiaohan was kind, beautiful, and smart. They already saw her as someone amazing.

Just then, the ox cart delivering their furniture arrived. No matter how reluctant they were, it was time to part.

Li Xiaohan was impressed by how fast the furniture delivery was. They must’ve sent the ox cart out the moment they placed the order. When they said “right away,” they meant it literally.

In fact, the store had rushed the delivery out of fear they’d change their minds. The furniture was excellent—but too good. Rich families had custom pieces made, and poor ones couldn’t afford it.

The store owner had almost given up on selling them. So now, terrified that Li Xiandong would change his mind, he rushed the delivery straight to their door.