Chapter 40  A Foal

　　After dinner was ready, Li Feng also came back. He first sent the village head home before returning. When he arrived at the village head’s house, he heard Shen Fulang mention what happened in the Zhao family in the afternoon. He didn’t stay to listen on purpose, he was worried about Brother Ming being alone at home and wanted to go back quickly. But the village head’s house was full of people, the elders of the village, and the Zhao family members who were waiting for the village head.

　　Earlier on when the Zhao family asked the village head to come forward, they didn’t believe that the village head happened to be out at that time. Some people saw him wandering around the village in the morning as he greeted them, but sensible people knew Shen Fulang would not lie to everyone.

 After the Shen family left, they ran to the village head’s house and waited for him to come and take charge of the situation and discuss how to deal with the Zhao family’s affairs.

　　Grandma Zhao was leaning on the door panel and couldn’t get up, but Wang Chunhua and Zhao Daniu still carried her to the village head’s house, waiting for the village head to come back and give them justice, the Shen family had gone to far.

　　When these people saw the village head being sent back by Li Feng in a carriage, they were finally convinced that he had gone out. They couldn’t say much about what happened before, and they couldn’t blame Li Feng for pulling the village head out at this critical moment. Li Feng didn’t know that the Shen family happened to come to cause trouble at that time.

　　However, the people from the Zhao family looked at Li Feng with hostile eyes. They all knew that Li Feng had thrown out the matchmaker who came to Tang Chunming’s house to arrange the marriage with Ming Ge’er. In their eyes, Ming Ge’er was still a member of the Zhao family. Li Feng’s move was undoubtedly to dig into the Zhao family and make the Zhao family lose face.

　　Li Feng ignored their gazes, after listening to a few words from Shen Fulang, he bid goodbye to the village head and some reasonable people in the Li family and hurried back. After he left, some people started to talk about him and Ming Ge’er sarcastically. These people didn’t dare to say it in front of him. After all, that face was intimidating enough, and his skills were said to be no worse than big man Yu Mu.

　　However, with the Zhao family’s affairs as a distraction, the people gathered here didn’t remember to ask the village head what he was up to with Li Feng. So, for the time being, the fact that Ming Geer had bought a barren mountain wasn’t known.

　　When Tang Chunming was cooking dinner, Zhang Xiu came to help and told him about the Zhao family. After listening to it, Tang Chunming didn’t know whether he should sympathize with the Zhao family. He always felt that the Zhao family was a group of bullies who only bullied the weak and feared the strong, especially after Zhao Dahu’s death. If Zhao Dahu were still alive, the confrontation with the Shen family in the afternoon might not have ended in utter defeat. After all, Zhao Dahu was a strong man, but now the Zhao family only had the weak or the old, so the situation is completely favorable towards the Shen family

　　When Li Feng returned home, Tang Chunming had just put the food on the table. When Li Feng passed by the door of his house, he called out to others outside to inform them that he was back. Therefore, after coming back, he washed his hands and face and sat at the table to eat. Da Mao and Er Mao wanted to stay and wait for the foal, but when Zhang Xiu returned home, he grabbed his two sons’ ears and carried them back.

　　”Uncle Feng, where is the foal?” Ah-Lin followed him around and was disappointed when he didn’t see the foal. Er Mao told him before he left that, he should tell him immediately, if he saw the foal, then he would come over to see it together.

　　Li Feng shook off the water on his hands and wiped them with a cloth before picking up Ah-Lin and telling him, “I’ve already picked out the foal, and I have also paid a deposit. We’ll just have to go over there tomorrow to bring it back. Your Uncle Feng has to rush to send the village head back, so he cannot bring the foal for Ah-Lin. Uncle Feng promises that you’ll be able to see it tomorrow afternoon.”

　　Although Ah-Lin only understood half of what he heard, he understood one thing, Uncle Feng had bought the pony, but he would have to wait until tomorrow to see it. Well, Ah-Lin generously forgave Uncle Feng and became happy again. He rubbed onto Li Feng, and Li Feng also came over and rubbed Ah Lin with his face covered with bruises, which made Ah-Lin giggle.

　　Tang Chunming stood at the door with his hand on his waist, looking at the two with a smile. He also heard Li Feng’s explanation just now. They were going to the county government office, and the journey was too far. They could not bring the foal back, not that they did not fulfill their promise.

 Moreover, this usually taciturn man patiently explained the reason to Ah-Lin instead of using an adult tone to scare the child. This was rare in this rural area, Tang Chunming was very satisfied.

　　Li Feng held Alin in his arms and faced Ming Geer’s smiling gaze, feeling very happy.

　　”I’m going to the county town again tomorrow to bring the foal.” After sitting down, Li Feng explained to Tang Chunming.

　　”I heard everything. Thank you for your hard work.”

　　”Not hard.” It wasn’t hard at all, but he was still very happy to hear hie Geer’s words. Thinking of the Zhao family’s affairs, he asked with concern, “I hope what happened to the Zhao family this afternoon didn’t scare you.”

　　”I slept until late in the evening by then, the Shen family had left long ago, and the three children had been guarding the gate all afternoon without opening it. It was Brother Xiu who told me the situation, in the afternoon don’t worry.” Tang Chunming enjoyed the feeling of being valued and replied with a smile.

　　”That’s good.” Li Feng felt relieved and a little uncomfortable under Ming Ge’er’s gaze. Thinking of the previous kiss, he suddenly wanted to kiss him again. He was too nervous before and didn’t feel it properly. But now that the child was around, he didn’t want to do such an excessive thing and corrupt the child. However, under the table, Li Feng still avoided Ah-Lin and stretched out his left hand, and held Ming Ge’er’s hand.

　　Tang Chunming looked at the hand holding his tightly under the table, while the owner of the hand lowered his head and seemed to concentrate on eating, and his eyes couldn’t help but smile more. Well, he had never enjoyed such a love in his previous life, and he was immersed in it. The two of them held hands and had dinner, which took longer than before. In the middle, he took care of Ah-Lin, and the sky was getting darker and darker.

　　After the meal, Li Feng took the initiative to clear the table and wash the dishes. Where no one could see, his face that’s always expressionless had a silly smile. After cleaning up the kitchen and returning to the house, his calm expression returned to its original state, as if he was not the one who had been smiling silly before.

　　He handed the paper he had been holding in his arms to Ming Ge’er. This was not the final deed, but a written proof of a partial deposit. After the people from above measured the area of ​​the barren mountain and paid the remaining silver, he could go to the government office to exchange this paper for a formal deed.

 He also told Ming Ge’er: “The mountain is one tael of silver per mu. Like the reclaimed land, it is tax-free for the first three years. After that, taxes will be paid according to the tax rate for barren land. According to the registration at the government office, it is estimated that there are about 500 mu of land on the hill behind.” He had paid a deposit of 100 taels of silver.

　　Tang Chunming was shocked when he took the paper. What, it cost five hundred taels of silver to buy such a barren mountain. He underestimated it before. If it weren’t for Li Feng’s money, how long would it take him to save up this much money? He actually got on the rich man’s good side by accident. He shook the paper in his hand and said, “Did they say when they would come to measure the land?”

　　”Probably in the next two days. The village head will come then, don’t worry. If I’m not here, you can pay the silver first. I’ll take care of the rest when I come back.” He was happy if his geer was happy. Besides, apart from fighting, farming, and hunting, he didn’t know how to make a living. It would be useless to keep the silver in his hands.    

      But Ming’er was different. He was separated from the Zhao family and set up a household independently. He was still able to live a good life. It showed that he was capable. Maybe he could make more money. Even if he was done with all the trouble, he still had the strength.

　　”Okay”

　　Li Feng was holding Ah-Lin and talking to Mingge’er, dawdling as he didn’t want to go back too early. Ah-Lin had played all day and didn’t take a nap with his mother at noon. He leaned in Li Feng’s arms without making any sound. Li Feng saw that he couldn’t stay any longer, so he gently carried Ah-Lin, who was almost asleep, into the kang. After he was done, he walked out reluctantly, wishing he could walk slower.

　　Tang Chunming followed him and had to close the gate after he left. When they were almost at the gate, Li Feng suddenly turned around. His dark eyes were shining in the night. He grabbed Tang Chunming’s hand and said with a grumble: “I will definitely treat you well in the future.”

　　”hmm.”

　　”I won’t let irrelevant people bully you and Ah-Lin.”

         “hmm”

　　”You…if anything happens at night, don’t come out. I will rush over.” Li Feng was really worried. Once the news of buying the mountain spread, there would be more people who would be jealous of Mingge’er. Who knows, there might be someone brave enough to come to the door seeing that Mingge’er was a widower. He…really wanted to move in and guard them himself.

　　”hmm”

　　After saying a few words, Li Feng became bolder, perhaps because of the darkness. However, Ming Ge’er kept his head down and did not respond. Li Feng was getting anxious and didn’t know what to say. At this moment, he saw Ming Ge’er’s shoulders slightly moving. He had been too nervous to notice these details before.

　　Tang Chunming couldn’t hold it in any longer and laughed out loud. He raised his head. There was no shyness on his face at all, tears were coming out of the corners of his eyes. It was not easy to get this taciturn guy to have a serious relationship, he couldn’t stop laughing.

　　Tang Chunming wiped his eyes and saw that Li Feng’s face was about to turn black, so he smiled and said, “Are you still a man? You are still dawdling and talking nonsense. It’s not like we won’t see each other tomorrow, go back to bed quickly.”

　　Li Feng’s forehead veins throbbed, and he really had the urge to spank this Ger. He also discovered that the words that his colleagues and soldiers had said to each other in private about their Geer could not be applied to Brother Ming. Well, no matter how much he said to Brother Ming, it was useless. It was far less effective than taking action. So Li Feng lowered his head and bit Ming’s upturned mouth. Now, Tang Chunming could no longer laugh.

　　As expected, taking action is more effective in dealing with Ming Ge’er. Li Feng suppressed his desire to act, turned around with satisfaction, loosened his grip, turned around to open the gate, and reminded again: “I’m going back, close the door, don’t let Xiaohua in, let him guard the yard, Jingfeng over there is also very alert.”

　　Tang Chunming touched the corner of his mouth and glared at Li Feng unhappily. This time he finally made a sound other than “hmm”

 “Got it, I won’t let Xiaohua sleep in the house.”

　　After closing the door, Tang Chunming walked back while stroking the corner of his mouth speechlessly. Why did he bite people like a wolf? If they get more intimate, would he still keep this mouth? Would he still be able to see people? No, this guy’s bad habits must be corrected. He didn’t want to have to endure the teasing looks of Brother Xiu and Shen Fulang every day. This was not the way to show affection.

　　As for whether Li Feng could sleep well at night, only he himself knew. Life without his Ge’er was hard, but life with his Ge’er but unable to be close to him was even harder. However, he still ran to Tang Chunming’s house early the next morning.

　　Ah-Lin went to bed early last night and forgot to tell Da Mao and Er Mao about the foal. The two people who had been waiting were restless all night and didn’t get a good rest. They wanted to go to Ah-Lin’s house to ask, but both Li Dashan and Zhang Xiu kept them at home and didn’t let them disturb Ming Ge’er and Feng Xiaozi. They said it was dark and they couldn’t see anything even if they went there, so they had to wait until tomorrow morning to see.

　　Therefore, the two children also ran to Tang Chunming’s house early in the morning. Anyway, it was common for the two to have breakfast at Tang Chunming’s house. Every morning, there was a bowl of goat milk waiting for them.

   Before Li Feng could say a few words to Ming Ge’er, two boys rushed in and rushed to Li Feng standing in the yard, asking impatiently about the foal. They couldn’t wait to go to the stable in the new yard to take a look. Li Feng grabbed them and explained the reason. The two boys calmed down. Well, they were not too disappointed. They could see it in the afternoon as long as they waited for another day. So the two became happy again.

　　”Uncle Feng, we will help you pick vegetables.” The two boys offered to help very actively. Today was the day when Jinji came to pick vegetables, the two boys knew that if the work was finished earlier, Uncle Feng would be able to go to the county town earlier to bring back the foal, and they would be able to see it earlier.

　　”Let’s go, but we have to make a deal that you can’t be perfunctory about today’s homework. Otherwise, if bring back the foal, I won’t give it to you to ride. Damao, you have to take supervise of Ermao.” Li Feng instructed sternly.

　　The two children’s scalps tightened, especially Er Mao, who felt his buttocks aching. The excitement on their faces finally subsided, and they puffed out their little chests and promised, “We will complete our homework seriously.”

　　Li Feng then took the two boys to the backyard and asked Alin to stay to take care of his mother. This kind of different treatment was something that Da Mao and Er Mao could not be jealous of. Ah-Lin was a little ger, and a man should take care of and protect a little ger

　　Zhang Xiu was worried about his two sons disturbing Ming Ge’er early in the morning, so he ran over to take a look. Hearing that his two sons were helping Feng pick vegetables in the backyard, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He said to Tang Chunming, “Look at these two, they don’t do anything at home but come to your house to be diligent. Forget it. I feel relieved knowing that they didn’t bother you. I will go back to pick vegetables too.”

　　The last time when Jinji came to collect vegetables, Zhang Xiu and Wang Mo picked a basket for Xiao Shunzi to take back to see if Jinji wanted them. If not, they would pick more vegetables and sell them in town. Jinji’s shopkeeper Qi had sent someone to agree to purchase them and would collect them together when they came this time. The price would also be discussed this time, so Zhang Xiu and Wang Mo got up early and were busy at home. No matter how busy they were, they were happy.

　　Li Feng picked the vegetables with Da Mao and Er Mao, ate breakfast in a hurry, and set off on horseback without waiting for Jin Ji’s people to come. Ming Ge’er was better at dealing with people than he was, so he had nothing to worry about. Besides, he could ride back and forth quickly by himself, and maybe he could make it back for lunch, so Li Feng set off early.

　　Seeing Li Feng riding away in style, Da Mao and Er Mao stared at him with wide eyes, looking forward to such a day for themselves. Tang Chunming also wiped his drool, it was too tempting, too manly, no, he had to be watched closely, he must not be allowed to escape.

　　Not long after, Shopkeeper Qi and Xiao Shunzi came again. As usual, they stayed for breakfast first and then talked about harvesting vegetables. On the way, they met Li Feng. Li Feng deliberately slowed down his horse and greeted the people from Jinji, saying that he was going to the county town. The implication was of course that they should take care of Tang Fulang.

　　After breakfast, the two families were already waiting for him in the yard. The men from Dashan and Wang Mo’s family were all there. How could they not be excited about such a good thing? They all looked at Shopkeeper Qi expectantly, hoping that Jinji could give a good price.

        He knew his vegetables’ quality, although they were not as good as those from Ming’er’s family, they were better than those grown by other families in the village. The elders of Wang Mo’s family were reluctant to eat them freely like before. Uncle Zhao Liu was embarrassed to come again. In the past two days, he had started to bring vegetables to the town to sell. He was very satisfied that he could sell them at a price a few cents higher than other vegetables. After selling vegetables, he passed by Tang Chunming’s house and brought some candy to A-Lin.

　　Shopkeeper Qi did not act in a daunting manner in front of Tang Chunming. He offered a slightly higher price than the market price to buy all their vegetables. In the future, they would come to buy vegetables of the same quality. Of course, these vegetables were not for Jinji. His young master had other restaurants in other places. 

        There was no other way if Tang Fulang’s supply was insufficient. The vegetables from these two restaurants were always better than others. As the weather got warmer, the seasonal dishes increased, and the purchasing price for Tang Chunming’s vegetables naturally dropped. However, the dishes from the new yard also came out, and the increased supply meant that the income each time did not decrease too much.

　　Seeing that Shopkeeper Qi still had something to say to Ming Ge’er, Zhang Xiu and Wang Mo’s families took the money for the vegetables and left happily. After leaving Ming Ge’er’s yard, the two families looked at each other, and the joy in each other’s eyes could not be concealed, but they both said, “We should keep this matter a secret and not tell other people how much the vegetables were sold for. We should keep this business going for a long time.”