Chapter 32: Integration and Future Planning!
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Chapter 32
“Daddy is the best!”
With a loud smack, the little girl planted a kiss directly on Li Feng’s cheek.
How could anyone withstand that?
Li Feng was delighted.
Not only had he become a father, he was the father of a whole string of children. If Eldest Girl and Second Girl had also been boys, he would have had all seven Calabash Brothers!
Every morning, the moment he opened the door, seven children of differing appearances would call him Daddy.
Mmm. What bliss!
Only now did Li Feng truly feel that he had become part of this era.
He was a father too.
A real father!
The moment Li Erniu arrived home, he saw his father holding Little Sister.
At that moment, there was something about his father that Li Erniu could not tear his eyes away from.
In the past, the words his father said most often were, “Endure it. Just endure a little longer.”
Even if they wanted to take action, without their father’s support, it would all be futile.
Ever since their father had been knocked down by a wild boar, everything had changed.
Their father had learned to fight back, yet he had also become more courteous toward them.
He was no longer as close as before.
He had even said that he would send them to school. It was impossible not to be moved by that, but at this moment, the father before him perfectly matched the father in his heart.
He was the father Li Erniu respected most.
“Father!”
Li Erniu called out and walked over.
When he drew closer, Erniu took out the item he had prepared and said, “Father, your back still hasn’t healed, has it? I made you a back brace. From now on, stay home and rest. We’ll take care of you!”
Second Girl wrapped her arms around Li Feng’s neck and said cheerfully, “Second Girl can take care of Father too! I can rub his back. After I rub it, Father’s pain will go away!”
Li Feng burst out laughing. He picked the little girl up at once.
“Good. Father will wait for Second Girl to rub his back!”
Holding Second Girl in his arms, with Erniu following behind him, Li Feng stepped through the gate.
Everyone in the courtyard was busy.
Eldest Girl stood nearby, directing with her eyes while explaining to Big Dog and the others how to work.
“Big Brother, put this pile of soil beneath that big tree. It’ll be good for mounding up the earth around it.
“Third Brother, don’t split that piece of wood. Split it halfway down the middle instead. Father has recently taken to sitting beneath the big tree and drinking water, so we can make him a wooden table!
“Fourth Ox, Fifth Ox, stop playing in the mud and go sweep the ground. Especially the kitchen—we need to start cooking. Father will be back soon!”
“Got it!”
The courtyard was filled with the voices of children, each of them occupied with a task of their own.
Not one complained.
Not one slacked off. Everyone was united in their efforts, determined to put the household in order.
“Daddy, Second Girl wants to go help Big Sister!”
Second Girl squirmed in Li Feng’s arms and spoke softly.
Li Feng patted the little girl on the head and set her down.
“All right. Our Second Girl can go help your sister.”
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Erniu also joined the cleaning without being told.
The residence was spacious, and it was a tiled house, not the thatched hut they had lived in before.
The floors inside were paved with stone slabs rather than packed earth.
It was a three-sided courtyard.
The front had once been enclosed by a fence, but no one had maintained it, and it had already rotted away. After taking one look, Li Feng simply had the whole thing torn down.
There were two large trees in the courtyard, both lush and green. He had no idea what kind they were.
Apart from that, there was a large vat on either side of the courtyard, both filled to the brim with water for storage.
Buildings surrounded the yard.
Li Feng counted three rooms on the western side.
There were five rooms along the front.
The eastern side also had three rooms.
Aside from the main hall and the kitchen, there were nine bedrooms in all. With eight people in the family, there was more than enough for everyone to have a room of their own.
Beside the bedrooms stood a thatched shed, which was likely meant for livestock.
Behind the shed was another small yard, used for washing clothes and feeding the animals.
It was clear that the former owner of the residence had possessed both taste and wealth. Li Feng had inspected the thatched shed and found a manger inside. Horses had probably once been kept there.
The rooms had already been tidied by Eldest Girl and the others.
The beds had also been arranged.
When Li Feng went inside to take a look, he found the rooms completely bare. Other than the walls, there was nothing at all.
Even the bed was only a makeshift arrangement. Building a proper bed would take at least a day.
Big Dog followed Li Feng into the room. Looking at its simple furnishings, he rubbed his head and said awkwardly, “Father, you’ll have to make do tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll go up the mountain and cut down some trees, then I’ll build you a proper bed!”
Li Feng nodded.
He could have bought one directly, but there was no need.
The main issue was that a bed was a large item. Its unexplained origins would be difficult to account for.
Besides, he was not short of money anymore.
Adding what he had saved before to what he had taken from the Old Li family, he now had 1,242 taels and 680 copper coins on him.
He had plenty of money!
“Father, come out and eat!”
Eldest Girl’s voice came from outside.
Li Feng gestured to Big Dog.
“Let’s go eat first. Afterward, Father will discuss the future with all of you.”
Big Dog nodded and followed Li Feng out of the main room.
“Father!”
Erniu and the others were all standing beside a simple wooden table, waiting for Li Feng to come over.
Looking at the rickety table, Li Feng sighed.
There was still a long road ahead.
“Everyone, sit down.”
Li Feng took the seat of honor and called his sons and daughters to join him.
He had to admit, sitting in the seat of honor felt wonderful.
No wonder everyone wanted to be a father. It felt fantastic.
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“Father, have this!”
Eldest Girl placed a piece of meat in Li Feng’s bowl.
It was not fatty.
But it looked terribly tough.
It seemed rather difficult to swallow.
Perhaps because he had not been in this world for long and had never truly gone hungry, Li Feng was still somewhat particular about food.
He reached out and transferred the piece of meat to Big Dog’s bowl.
“You all eat it. I don’t like this.”
As soon as he said that, the smile vanished from Eldest Girl’s face, and she lowered her head.
The others lowered their heads as well. Even Fourth Ox and Fifth Ox had tears welling in their eyes.
Second Girl slid off her stool and toddled over to Li Feng’s leg. She looked up at her father with tear-filled eyes.
“Daddy, when Second Girl grows up, I’ll definitely marry someone very powerful. Then I’ll make sure Daddy can eat meat every day!”
“Boohoo… Second Girl doesn’t like meat. Daddy, you eat it. Your back won’t hurt after you do!”
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
Li Feng…
No, he really had not meant anything by it!
To prove that he was telling the truth, Li Feng immediately picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of meat in each person’s bowl.
The portions were all the same. There had not been much meat to begin with, and he had only managed it by tearing and pulling the pieces apart.
“Eat it all. No leftovers!”
He deliberately raised his voice.
“What’s a piece of meat between us? You’ll all be going to school soon. It’s only one piece of meat, so eat!”
Li Feng continued speaking, one sentence after another. Big Dog and Erniu lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling constantly.
They did not dare look up. Holding their chopsticks, they said nothing more and lowered their heads to bring the meat to their mouths.
Unlike before, they did not swallow it in one bite. Instead, they chewed slowly and carefully, as though they wanted to knead their father’s love into the meat, swallow it into their bellies, and savor it little by little.
They were so overwhelmed by his affection during the meal that, seeing something was wrong, Li Feng hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice before returning to his room.
Outside, other than the clinking of bowls and chopsticks, there was no other sound.
After quite some time, Big Dog led his younger brothers and sisters to the door of Li Feng’s room.
“Father!”
Big Dog called out.
“The door’s open. Come in,” Li Feng replied.
Everyone pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Li Feng seated in a chair, they came forward together and stood before him, prepared to receive a reprimand.
They seemed astonishingly accustomed to it.
Seeing them standing there like students who had made a mistake, Li Feng could not help laughing.
“We’re just having a family chat. Don’t be so serious!”
“Big Dog, Erniu, go find some chairs. If there aren’t enough, bring over some straw and sit on the floor.”
…