Chapter 223: Don’t Come Again
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Ning Fengnian was originally happily admiring the thriving scenery in his field today. Just as he was comparing the rice in his field with others, he suddenly heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice from the side.
“Fengnian…”
He said that it was familiar because he had heard Old Madam Ning’s voice for many years. He said that it was unfamiliar because it was rare for her to be so careful.
Ning Fengnian sighed. Then, he realized that when he saw his stepmother again, the panic that lingered in his heart and the lowliness that he used to feel all year round had long disappeared. What replaced it was boredom and resistance.
“Mother, why are you looking for me?”
No matter how much Old Madam Ning felt good about herself, she could hear the difference in his tone. She first looked around nervously and only dared to speak after confirming that Xiaoxiao was no longer around. “Your second brother has caused some trouble recently. Our family is in some trouble…”
She stammered for a long time before revealing her main goal. “Look, your eldest branch is living so well now. You really don’t lack that bit of money. Can you lend some silver to Father and Mother first? Father and Mother will slowly return it to you after this matter is resolved.”
Ning Fengnian’s heart was calm. He said calmly, “I’m sorry, Mother. My family doesn’t have idle money either.”
Old Madam Ning frowned. It was already her limit to be patient and whisper to Ning Feng for a long time. In the past, when had her eldest son not agreed obediently the moment she spoke?
“It’s only 180 taels. Isn’t it just a drizzle to your family now? Is there a need to prevaricate like this? I heard that your family even opened a shop in the county? Why? Are you so ruthless as to watch your parents live a hard life while you live a good life? Now, you’re even leaving your younger siblings in the lurch?”
Ning Fengnian was very calm. “Mother, you must be joking. You can go to the entire Fortune Village and ask. Who can treat ‘180 taels’ as ‘a drizzle’? As for my family opening a shop…”
Looking at Old Madam Ning’s ferocious face, Ning Fengnian knew that it was useless even if he explained his family’s hard work to her. In his daughter’s words, it was called “playing the lute to a cow”.
He took a deep breath. “Since Mother knows that my family is opening a shop, you should naturally know that all the money my family has saved has been invested into the shop.”
Old Madam Ning’s already mean face became even more vicious. She was used to being selfish, so she said, “Then sell your shop first and give the money to me in silver.”
Ning Fengnian was stunned for a moment. He suddenly felt that he was a complete fool in the past. Now that his heart had turned cold, his tone naturally turned cold.
“Mother also said that ‘your shop’. Since it’s my shop, what right does Mother have to make decisions for us?”
Old Madam Ning was stunned. “What did you say?”
Ning Fengnian simply said, “If Mother doesn’t understand, I’ll explain it once more. I’m saying that the shop belongs to my family and you have no right to make the decision. In addition, Second Brother is in trouble with gambling debts. Not to mention that I don’t have the ability to help, even if I do, I definitely won’t use my hard-earned money to fill that bottomless pit for him. Mother, if you really feel sorry for Second Brother, you should persuade him to change his bad habit as soon as possible.”
Old Madam Ning raised her hand and slapped him. “Who do you think you are? How dare you teach me?”
Ning Fengnian raised his hand to block her attack. Old Madam Ning’s palm slapped his muscular and firm arm. It was unknown which was more painful. “Mother’s slap can be considered to end our mother-son relationship. From now on, please remember that I’m no longer your son.”
“As for Second Brother, I’m afraid Mother has forgotten again. He’s not qualified for me to help him.”
As he spoke, he deliberately pointed at his head.
Her daughter had just discussed with her sons a few days ago what it meant by “how shall one repays kindness if one repays evil with kindness”.
Now that he could clearly match the latter with the old residence, he was not willing to be the silly former.
Old Madam Ning was not someone who would listen. She raised her hand and was about to hit him again, but this time, Ning Fengnian grabbed her wrist. “Old Madam, the weather is hot. You should go back and rest early.”
“Don’t look for us if there’s nothing else in the future. Don’t come again even if there’s anything.”
Even after he had walked far away, Old Madam Ning was still rooted to the ground. Her wrist that had been pinched hurt, but she did not have the courage to continue clamoring—
The way Ning Fengnian looked at her just now made her panic. He called her “Old Madam” and even asked her to “don’t come again”…
She finally realized that Ning Fengnian was no longer the sucker who could be beaten and scolded at will.
She looked at her stepson’s tall figure and thought about the good times of the eldest branch on the way here today. They had opened a shop, had fields, bought a mountain, and even wanted to build a new house. She thought about her own house and then looked at the green rice that was clearly a head taller than the ones beside it. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She really wanted to destroy the rice fields of the eldest branch and see how they could still be smug. However, seeing that the villagers were all coming out to work in the fields, she could only endure her anger and go home dejectedly.
For some reason, she slipped on the way back and fell into a ditch by the roadside. Then, she felt a pain in her thigh. She jumped up with a cry and realized that there were two big leeches lying on her leg. Just as she threw those away, an evil thought suddenly appeared in her mind.
Elsewhere, Xiaoxiao and Rong Yan straightened up from the tall rice bushes. Xiaoxiao stretched and asked, “Little Big Brother, you did my Step-Grandma fall just now, right?”
Her father’s performance just now was commendable. From now on, she did not have to worry about him being tricked into doing stupid things again. Little Big Brother’s godly strokes had even soothed her unhappiness because of Old Madam Ning’s slap. She felt very comfortable now.
Rong Yan didn’t hide it from her and even demonstrated the process of using stones as hidden weapons to her again. His precision and strength made Xiaoxiao’s eyes light up. “Last time, you said that I couldn’t learn martial arts in time. Where are the hidden weapons?”
Rong Yan smiled. “I was just about to tell you that this kind of hidden weapon that only needs skill is more suitable for you. Do you want to learn it?”
Of course, she had an advantage over others. Ordinary people could only hide a limited number of hidden weapons, but she had space as a cheating tool. She could hide as many as she wanted!
The two of them found a shade and started to practice the simplest finger techniques. Unknowingly, the sky turned dark. After returning home, Xiaoxiao was scolded by her parents. She humbly admitted her mistake and refused to change. At night, she even specially tested it when feeding the chickens, scaring the little chicks until they cried out.
In order to make up for them, Xiaoxiao secretly put them into her space when the adults were not around. After reaching level five, the space really underwent a heaven-shaking change. Not only was the five-fold time flow more visible to the naked eye, but the newly opened Exchange Mall was also really amazing.
Not only were there countless seeds and saplings, but it had also opened the right to exchange for some animal cubs and related items.
Actually, Xiaoxiao had long felt that it was a pity to look at the empty ranch, but it was not difficult for her to secretly get some seeds. She really did not have the strength to expand the ranch.. Even if she could go to the county to buy some chickens, ducks, geese, cows, and sheep, she would not have the chance to hide in the space without a legitimate reason, right? She could not just lose them after buying them, right?