Chapter 39 Buying a Mountain

Shen Fulang replaced Li Feng and sat under the stove to light the fire. He tilted his head and sighed: “How can they have nothing to say? You don’t know how jealous they were after Li Feng brought a horse, especially Li Conggen’s wife. He even went to the clan elders to appeal, that Boy Feng had disgraced them, but if they could have complained, I would have kicked them out long ago.” Because of Shen Fulang’s temper. Li Conggen’s family would not come to his front door but would go and complain to the elders about their family’s difficulties.

  The elder’s hearts would soften. After all, they were the juniors who had grown up under their own eyes and cared for them all their lives. They couldn’t turn a blind eye regardless, so some people came to Li Zheng.

　　Li Feng is not at a disadvantage now, his life is getting better, and he can make his own decisions not as in the past.

　　”There are some elders who are nosy and even came to my house to question the village head. They disagree with Boy Feng entering your household, saying it embarrasses the Li family. In the future, how will the villagers and those from other villages judge the Li family?”

    “Humph! I’m telling you, if they help Li Conggen’s family bully Boy Feng again, they will really lose face. Who knows what they did back then? It’s God’s blessing that  Boy Feng could  survive and come back alive. They still have the nerve to point fingers, so I just scolded them back. No matter what they said about disrespecting the elders, I’m not afraid to be disrespectful!”

　　Shen Fulang scolded happily, after he finished scolding, he remembered that Li Feng’s issues were now also related to Brother Ming. Brother Ming might be angry after hearing this. He quickly said: “Brother Ming, don’t be anxious. There are sensible people in the village who will be on your side. As for the others,  just let them go and live their own good lives.”

　　Tang Chunming prepared to cook fish for later. The fish had been killed and marinated with seasonings for a while. Now it is just right for cooking. After putting the fish into the pot with a sizzle, he smiled and said, “Let them talk, I can’t even bother with the Zhao family, let alone these people who I didn’t have any relationship with before. Even if they come to visit, it’s AFeng who will deal with them. I’m not a member of the Li family yet, haha.”

　　”That is, let Li Feng deal with those unreasonable people.” Zhang Xiu was happy to hear this. However, by the end of next year, Brother Ming will actually become a member of the Li family, and his relationship with him will be closer, Zhang Xiu was happy thinking about this.

　　 Tang Chunming didn’t care and the two of them put the matter aside and looked at the fish in the pot together. Tang Chunming used a spatula to fry both sides of the fish and began to add seasonings, including ginger, garlic, scallions, cooking wine, soy sauce, and vinegar. The two of them were stunned. How could they be willing to use such seasonings in cooking? Don’t spend money to buy it, but after the aroma drifted out, the two of them were looking forward to the taste of this fish.

　　Even the three children playing in the yard ran into the kitchen after smelling the aroma. They looked at the pot eagerly. Tang Chunming smiled touched his son’s head and said, “Tell the people in the house that food will be served soon, hurry up, and clear the table.”

　　”Okay!” The three children ran out happily, and their urgent screams could be heard in the kitchen.

　　Naturally, everyone was satisfied with this lunch, especially the sweet and sour fish. The two fish were finished first, Li Feng thought, Brother Ming didn’t even eat a few chopsticks. He will catch two more fish to cook for Brother Ming tomorrow, Ah- Lin’s appetite was also like his mother’s.

　　Li Feng slowed down halfway through the meal and took the opportunity to mention the matter of buying the mountain to Li Zheng. Li Zheng was stunned when he heard it: “Buy a mountain? What can you do with a mountain? There’s no need to buy a mountain right? Is it your idea or Ming Geer’s idea?”

　　”Husband, Feng Xiaozi’s idea and Brother Ming’s idea are the same. Although I think this matter sounds mysterious, at least let them talk about their ideas and then we can help add up the total. How can we just object to it? ” Shen Fulang glared at the village head.

　　”Okay, you guys continue, I’ll listen.” Li Zheng glanced at his husband helplessly,  he contradicted him making him lose face because he is used to it! he’s sure it was Brother Ming who came up with the idea.

　　Li Zheng guessed it right, but Li Feng glanced at Brother Ming and explained: “You have also seen that although a new yard has been built, chickens and sheep still cannot be raised at all, and the sheep are always penned. It’s not good to always keep the sheep in the pen. When the time comes, we can raise chickens and sheep on the mountain behind, plant some fruit trees on it, and sell the fruit in the city, and we will definitely get a good price.”

　　Li Zheng stopped talking and thought about Li Feng’s words. None of them had ever thought of these ideas, Can it really work? If they really work, they won’t lose money, but no matter how good it sounds if they can’t achieve it, then the money would be thrown into the water, and they would become the joke of the whole village and even the neighborhood. As their elder, Li Zheng felt that he should advise them no matter how the outcome will be.

　　”No one has ever done this in the village, and no one nearby. Can it really make money?” Li Zheng asked in a gentler tone.

　　”Uncle, just look at the chickens raised in the yard and you will know. I will kill one for you to try someday.” Li Feng has never tasted it himself but can guarantee that the taste is different from other people’s chickens. This confidence may come from the self-confidence shown by Brother Ming, “Jinji has also agreed that if the chickens are well raised, they will also take them.”

　　The last sentence is the most important to Li Zheng. With Jinji’s as a guarantee, Li Zheng’s heart eased a lot: “How about the money? If it’s not enough…”

　　”It’s enough, we are asking Uncle to help us find out how much we need in total. Then we can put this mountain in Brother Ming’s name, this will also save the Li family members from finding  trouble with you, uncle.”

     Anyway, all the money was handed over to Brother Ming. Whatever is bought will be considered to be Ming Geer’s. Others will only think that it is Brother Ming who’s paying for it.

　 Li Zheng blushed. Unexpectedly, Feng Xiaozi also knew about the troubles in the Li family. He coughed uncomfortably and said, “You don’t have to worry about those things. Without my consent, they can’t come making trouble in front of you, don’t pay attention to them.”

　　”I know that uncle is good to me. I don’t mind what they say, and there’s no way they can take advantage of me. If they come to your place to make trouble again just tell them that, if I didn’t come back alive, and if I hadn’t met a noble person when I went north, I would really…” Before he could say any more, he turned to look at Brother Ming. Fortunately, he came back alive.

　　Tang Chunming couldn’t help but pat Li Feng’s hand. His relatives were not necessarily better than those in the Zhao family. They were all the same. Li Feng almost lost his life if he still succumbed to these people, he would look down on him. After the matter was mentioned, he discussed about how many laborers would be hired to help clean the weeds on the mountain. So he can be sure that although some people will be jealous and sarcastic of him buying a mountain, most people will take this opportunity to work and make money.

　　Li Zheng also followed Tang Chunming’s words and talked about the planning issues at the top of the mountain and the safety issues that need to be taken care of. With Li Feng here, there is no need to worry too much. He just needs to go around the mountain frequently and deal with those wild animals. In this regard, Li Feng’s experience is more than enough.

　　After dinner, Li Feng and Tang Chunming still insisted on the idea. Li Zheng couldn’t want to dissuade them. At most, he would help take care of them in the future and help with the Li family’s troubles. He was going to the Yamen to inquire how much money was needed to buy the mountain. And if there are any preferential policies for buying barren mountains, Can they open up wasteland and be tax-free for three years? There should be some about mountains as well.

　　Li Feng went with him and carried enough silver. Before leaving, the three children did not forget to remind Li Feng about buying a pony. Zhang Xiu almost carried the two sons back by their ears.

　　After Li Feng drove the carriage and took Li Zheng away, Zhang Xiu said to Tang Chunming: “These two children are going to be spoiled. They really don’t regard themselves as outsiders.”

　　Tang Chunming smiled and said: “It’s better not to be an outsider. Besides, Da Mao and Er Mao can be regarded as Afeng’s nephews. Afeng promised this pony to Ah-Lin. Don’t you know that he is still fulfilling to Ah-Lin’s request?” “

　　Zhang Xiu and Shen Fulang both burst into laughter, he was really trying his best to make Ah-Lin recognize him as his father. He probably wanted to pamper Ah-Lin to heaven. The two asked Tang Chunming to stay with the children, and they went to the kitchen to clean up the dishes.

　　After cleaning up, they stayed with Tang Chunming for a while. They both had to go home and get busy. They told Da Mao and Er Mao not to just play and take care of Brother Ming, otherwise they would definitely be punished when their Uncle Feng came back.

　　As soon as the two of them walked to the gate of the courtyard, they saw a carriage coming from outside the village. It passed by Tang Chunming’s house without even stopping. The two of them looked at it strangely: “Whose carriage is this? It’s been seen recently, coming in and out of the village.” Usually, many families always use the big mule

　　”Could it be that they are here for the Zhao family? Apart from their house, the only one where a carriage will appear is Brother Ming’s.” Zhang Xiu raised his head and looked in the direction of the carriage. There was a lot of movement. Many people walked out of the house to see what was going on, the neighbors just stood at the door and asked each other.

　　That direction was definitely the Zhao’s house. After parking in front of the Zhao’s house, two people jumped out of the carriage and loudly banged the door.

　　”Did something happen to the Zhao family? It seems that the person is very angry.” Anyone close could hear the anger at the knock on the door.

　　”Knock it down for me!” There was still someone in the carriage who had not yet gotten out, and an angry voice came from inside.

　　As expected, the person who got the order smashed down the door before anyone from the Zhao family came to open the door. Followed by an angry shout: “You, the Zhao family, have gone too far! If you don’t give my Shen family a reasonable explanation today, even if we go to the Yamen to file a lawsuit, my Shen family is not that easy to fool!”

　　The Shen family? The Shen family who were to get married to the Zhao family? Aren’t they engaged? How could there be a disagreement? Zhao Laoma’s eyes were a little dodgy when he heard that it was the Shen family. He called Zhao Laosan’s name in a panic.

　　Two tall men walked in, and finally, a middle-aged man wearing a silk robe walked in.

　　”Something happened to the Zhao family!” Zhang Xiu and Shen Fulang looked at each other. Shen Fulang hurriedly bid goodbye to Brother Ming and rushed home. As he walked, he said, “I wonder if someone will call the village head? He had just left, so I have to go back .” Lest people think that the village head is deliberately avoiding showing up. Li Zheng, has some power and prestige in the village, but sometimes there are a lot of troubles. Like now when outsiders came into Pingshan Village, Li Zheng has to come out to protect the villagers.

　　Although he was far away and couldn’t hear what was going on over there, it was not easy to see this attitude. He felt that it would not be a small matter for the Zhao family now that Zhao Laosan was admitted as a scholar. He couldn’t help but lament how lucky the head of the family is now that he is away, otherwise, it would be difficult for the head of the family to intercede.

　　Dashan, who had returned home, also rushed over and told his two children: “Don’t go watch the fun, don’t get involved. Brother Ming, please close the door at home. If there is any news, our family will know first.” Because of Li Feng’s Relationship, Dashan could not help but take more care of Brother Ming, so he warned.

　　”Don’t worry, I’m too lazy to watch the excitement. Anyway, someone will tell me everything later.” Tang Chunming yawned and said lazily. He waved to send him away he turned back closed the door, and said to the three children: “I want to take a nap, do you want to take a nap together or play by yourself? But you can’t go out to play in the yard.”

　　The three children looked at each other, and then Ah-Lin came forward and said, “Mom, let’s go see the sheep pen.” The big horse is gone, but they can ride the sheep.

　　”Okay, but don’t be too fussy, okay?” Although the ewe is very docile, she still needs to warn them.

　　”We know, Uncle Feng told us!” The three children immediately raised their chests and assured.

　　After eating and feeling sleepy, it was spring again, making it easier to fall asleep. Tang Chunming yawned back to the house, patted the pillow stuffed with cotton wool, and fell asleep.

　　When he woke up and the sun was about to set, Tang Chunming rubbed his eyes. He had slept for a long time. Since Li Feng came over, he has become more and more lazy. 

  Looks like his body has become more lazy, most of his time during the day is spent sleeping. When Zhang Xiu found out, he said that the symptoms in the stages of pregnancy had moved to the second trimester.

 Perhaps he knew before that he couldn’t lie down to rest and had to take care of everything by himself, so his body followed suit. It was tense, and now that he’s free, the previous symptoms have returned.

　　After hearing this, Tang Chunming could only secretly complain about the horrible pregnancy symptoms.

　　However, when he woke up, he felt a little hungry and very thirsty. Tang Chunming took out the fruit from the space and ate it while Li Feng was away. As for Ah-Lin, he could only feed him in the evening.

　　After eating a bunch of fruits, Tang Chunming felt better. He got up from the kang. No matter how lazy he was, he still had to make dinner. He didn’t know when Li Feng would be back.

　　The three children were huddled together in the yard playing, but as soon as Tang Chunming came out, they knew it. Ah-Lin hurriedly ran over and shouted: “Mom, I’ll give you some water, Uncle Feng said I give you drinking water. “Uncle Feng told him to take care of his mother.

　　Tang Chunming was happy to enjoy his son’s care and sat lazily on the bamboo chair placed by the door. Er Mao ran over and lay down next to Tang Chunming’s legs, claiming credit and saying, “Ming Amo, we didn’t even leave the yard in the afternoon.”

　　”That’s good, are you hungry? Just pick the cucumbers in the backyard and eat.”