Chapter 21: Father, Let Go—Third Brother Won't Pass!

"If you aren't going to let me live, then nobody gets to live!"

"Isn't the third son supposed to be taking the imperial examinations? Do you believe that I could march off right now and report him for unfilial conduct, effectively crushing his path to glory?"

"He's nothing but a toad dreaming of reaching the heavens. Father, we are all just humble tillers of the soil; there is no smoke rising from our ancestral graves to suggest greatness. The third son won't pass, so why must you be so stubborn?"

Li Feng's heart-piercing words left everyone in the courtyard stunned!

"You scoundrel!"

Old Man Li’s breathing grew ragged. He looked at Li Feng with trembling intensity, clearly pushed to the brink of fury.

"Shut your mouth!"

"Your third brother is the hope of this entire family. Anyone who dares to touch him will be flayed alive by my hand!"

Old Man Li’s face was twisted with viciousness. He had suffered for most of his life, slaving away solely because of the old woman’s wish for a son who was a government official. Now that he could finally see a glimmer of hope, if Li Feng dared to extinguish it, he would kill him!

No. Li Feng could no longer remain in the house. He had originally counted on him to hunt for game to bring back and trade for money, but it seemed there was no game, only strange occurrences plaguing the household!

In any case, the second son had been dutiful with his contributions over the years, and with the silver in hand—plus what the old woman held—there was no problem at all in sending the third son to take the prefecture and academy exams.

As for the mandatory labor service, let the second son go! There were still the older boys, Dagou and Erniu, at home; the farm work would not be neglected.

"Third son, help me back inside!" Old Man Li commanded, turning his head toward Li Qingyun.

"Yes, Father!"

Li Qingyun loved to perform in front of others, especially when it involved such a display of filial piety. He immediately hurried over to support the old man. "Father, go slowly!"

"I’ve got you, be careful!"

"There are steps ahead, let me carry you on my back, Father!"

The father and son were the picture of harmony, making Li Feng's family seem like complete outsiders.

Once Li Qingyun was out of earshot, Cheng Xiuyun crossed her arms over her chest and stared coldly at Li Feng. "Second Brother, you went too far this time!"

"No matter what Father has done, you shouldn't have spoken to him like that, should you?"

"Mother and Father have seen how hard Qingyun has been studying in town. Isn't he working so tirelessly just to elevate the family's status?"

"How could you say such things about Qingyun? And you even occupied our room!"

The more Cheng Xiuyun spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. "We only rent one room in town; our life there isn't easy, certainly not as comfortable as yours at home..."

Her throat was parched from talking, yet Li Feng showed no reaction at all! And those little brats of his were all standing there like wooden posts, which only served to make her angrier.

What did it matter if they were born to the family? Weren't they just destined to be servants to people like them?

"Are you finished?"

Seeing her falter, Li Feng turned to Daya. "Your third aunt is so filial!"

"She rarely comes back all these years. Now that she has the chance, let her show her proper respect to your grandparents!"

"Why are you still holding that meat? Give it to your third aunt. We’re going back to our room to rest!"

"Oh, my back, it still hurts so much. Dagou, Erniu, hurry and help me back to the room!"

"Coming!"

At Li Feng’s command, Dagou and Erniu scurried over and helped Li Feng into the room. Cheng Xiuyun suppressed her rage, forced to watch helplessly as Li Feng retreated into what she considered their room.

"Mother, what happened to Second Uncle? Why has he changed so much?"

"And Daya and Erya—they used to wait on us hand and foot whenever we came back. Why are they acting as if we don't exist this time?"

"Mother, do we really have to cook for Grandma and Grandpa? And are we really staying in the south room?" Li Baozhen looked toward the dilapidated south room in the distance.

It was an old, crumbling structure that had never been maintained. It looked like it could barely keep out the wind or rain. Being asked to stay there was worse than just going back to town!

"Mother, let's go back to town. It’s horrible here!"

Baoshu rarely spent time in Li Village; she was almost always in town. There were bluestone paths in town, unlike the muddy trails of Li Village. Just walking here had dirtied her embroidered shoes. Even the silk flower in her hair was covered in dust, and there wasn't even a place to wash up. She couldn't stand it!

Cheng Xiuyun gritted her teeth. Thinking of the purpose of their visit, she could only force herself to be patient. "Endure it, it’s only for one night!"

"You girls go play in the courtyard for a bit. Mother will go check the kitchen and prepare some dinner for you."

They still needed to eat. In order to get the money, she had bought a good slab of meat, which had cost her eight copper coins. She had to make sure her own family got their fill of it! She certainly wasn't going to let the second brother's family benefit from it!

However... when Cheng Xiuyun comforted her daughters and entered the kitchen, she was completely stunned.

What? How did the kitchen become like this?

It was covered in soot and charcoal, black and grimy. There was only a rudimentary stove in the middle, and the pots and pans were scattered on a bamboo rack nearby. There was no protection from the elements, and there wasn't even a layer of dust—it was completely stripped bare!

Where was the roof? Where was the firewood? Where was the cupboard for the grain? How on earth did the second brother's family cook?

Cheng Xiuyun felt as if the sky were collapsing. She had no choice but to head to the main room to find Qingyun and the elders.

Inside the main room, Li Qingyun looked at the cramped, foul-smelling space and nearly vomited his last meal. After struggling for a while to acclimate to the environment, he began to speak with righteous indignation. "Father, what is wrong with Second Brother?"

"Why is he acting like a firecracker? And speaking to you both like that—what’s going on with the injuries on you and Mother?"

Li Qingyun frowned. The change in his second brother was too drastic. Was this really the same man who used to obey his every word?

"Don't mention that degenerate!" Old Man Li spat. "Who knows what kind of madness has taken him? He suddenly became a different person, and even Dagou and Erniu have started acting unfilial!"

"If it weren't for the fact that you are about to take your exams, I would have reported him to the village head and made him kneel in the ancestral hall!"

"Father, what has happened during this time?" Li Qingyun raised an eyebrow. The fact that his parents could still be this ruthless meant there must be surplus food in the house. That being the case, he felt reassured.

"Son, you must help us analyze this. The Li family has been cursed with terrible luck lately!"

Old Lady Li began to wail as well. "First, I fell and broke several ribs. Before I even healed, your father fell and broke his leg!"

"That wretched second son only gave us 345 copper coins for medicine. We still owe 900 more, and your father needs to take good care of his leg and change the dressings regularly!"

"I..."

Upon hearing about money, Li Qingyun’s head began to throb. Had his mother gone senile? He had come back specifically to get money. Why was she crying poor to him instead?

Outside, Cheng Xiuyun heard everything, and an expression of disgust appeared on her face. What a miserable old hag. She had always said that since the second son was around every day, being attentive and filial, which elder wouldn't prefer someone like him?

The old fools must have been funneling the family's money to the second brother's family. And now they were turning around and crying poor to them? Why didn't they just drop dead?

"Mother, what is going on with the kitchen?"

With that thought, Cheng Xiuyun pushed the door open and asked directly. However, she wasn't as good at pretending as Li Qingyun. The moment she stepped inside, the stench hit her, and she began to retch uncontrollably.

The two elders frowned at the sight. Was she showing them contempt?