Chapter 7: Combat Power Exceeds Limits, Time to Move!

"Aren't you fine?"

Old Li stepped forward, looking at the son who had always been obedient to his every command, and tried to reason with him.

"Your third brother has already passed the county examination and is about to take the prefectural exam. Once he passes that, he will qualify for the academy examination. When that happens, your third brother will be a scholar."

"As long as our family has a scholar, we won't have to pay taxes anymore. Think of how much money that will save!"

"By then, you won't have to work so hard, will you?"

"Summer is almost here, and the county will surely have a quota for labor service. You’ll have to go help dig canals, and once you're gone for a month, there will be no one at home to help out. Do you want to work Da-gou and Er-niu to death?"

Da-gou and Er-niu felt their backs stiffen.

Here it comes, it's happening again!

Every time Grandfather speaks, Father is doomed!

The two of them were preparing to accept their fate and shoulder the family’s labor in their father's stead—after all, that was how it had always been. The third uncle had been taking exams for decades; they were taking the entry-level exams even before they were born. They had been at it for so long that, let alone a scholar, they hadn't even seen what a successful candidate looked like. Then there was the eldest uncle, who was also a part of this family; neither he nor the third uncle should have been exempt from labor service, yet the entire burden had always been pressed upon the second branch of the family.

Er-niu was resentful, but he had no choice. The Great Liang Dynasty governed the world through filial piety. If they dared to be unfilial, they would be drowned in spit by the villagers the moment they stepped outside.

"Father, it seems you are determined to see a white-haired man bury his own son."

Li Feng stood up, clutching his waist, his face twisted in pain. "I have labored for this family for thirty years."

"I am not complaining, I just don't want you to have to bear the pain of losing a son again."

"So, Father, for the sake of being able to better serve you in the future, I must take good care of my health. As for the third brother’s travel expenses and the labor service, let the eldest brother go."

"The eldest brother has been idle for decades; it’s time he moved a little. Our family hasn't split up yet—why does the eldest brother always stay in town? Outsiders might even think our Li family has already divided the household."

"If the eldest brother has trouble with his legs, he can send Cheng-you to perform the labor service. After all, each family only needs to provide one quota. If Cheng-you doesn't want to go, let Cheng-tai go. There's always a way."

"Alright, Father, your son needs to get some rest. I have to take Mother to see a doctor tomorrow."

"Sigh, this family really can't function without me. I can't rely on anyone..."

Li Feng mimicked Old Li’s tone, putting himself on the moral high ground before the old man could. As the saying goes, one's body, hair, and skin are gifts from one's parents and should not be easily damaged; otherwise, it is unfilial. He had been hit by a wild boar, and the original owner of this body had already died from it—surely he was allowed to rest? He was being so filial; he had sacrificed so much just to spare his parents the pain of bereavement.

***

After leaving the room, Da-gou and Er-niu followed closely behind, their eyes shining as they stared at their father’s back.

Father was so different today! They couldn't find the right words to describe how, but they knew one thing for certain: they wouldn't have to kneel all night tonight.

"Da-gou, Er-niu!" Li Feng suddenly spoke.

"Yes, Father!" The two quickly scrambled to Li Feng’s side, waiting for orders.

"Your grandfather has to look after your grandmother tonight, so he won't have time to come out. Go and carry the waste bucket from the south room over to your grandfather."

"Also, open the doors to the rooms of your eldest uncle and third uncle, and tidy them up. They will be our rooms from now on!"

"Da-ya and Er-ya will stay in Bao-zhu’s room, and you two will live in Cheng-you’s room."

"San-niu, Si-niu, and Wu-niu will take Cheng-tai’s room. Do you understand?"

*Gulp.*

Da-gou and Er-niu stared at Li Feng in disbelief. They could live in Cheng-you’s room? That was the room of the Li family’s eldest grandson, and besides, Cousin Cheng-you was a scholar...

"Do you have a problem with that?" Li Feng asked when he saw they weren't moving.

"No, we'll go right now." Er-niu was sharp; since his father had spoken, they would just do it. Besides, the eldest uncle and third uncle were never home, and especially now, with the farm work so busy, they certainly wouldn't be coming back. Rather than letting the rooms sit empty, they might as well be put to use.

The two boys led a group of half-grown children and dashed toward the two rooms in the northwest.

Watching them get busy, Li Feng lay down under the jujube tree. If it weren't for the dark, he would have forgotten that the south room was basically uninhabitable. It used to be for livestock. After he got married and the house became too crowded, they had fixed up that shack, and the whole family lived in one room. The stench was unbearable. Da-ya and Er-ya were a bit better off, at least not having to live with a bunch of grown men. Because he had been injured, the girls hadn't cleaned up, which led to the scene where he had been disgusted to the point of vomiting. Now, whoever wanted to sleep in that room could have it; he certainly wouldn't be going back.

"Second son, what are you doing? Why did Da-gou and Er-niu go into Qing-bao and Qing-yun’s rooms!"

"Those are their elders, how dare they..."

"Father, why have you come out?"

Hearing the voice, Li Feng was slightly surprised, but he stood up unhurriedly. "I told them to do it. Is there a problem?"

Old Li was panting, his breathing ragged like a broken bellows. Seeing this, Li Feng immediately stepped forward to twist the knife: "Father, are you alright? You must hold on. The third brother is about to take the prefectural exam. If something happens to you at this critical juncture, the third brother will have to observe three years of mourning. Wouldn't that just waste the Li family's chance to rise in the world?"

"You..." Old Li was furious. Was he wishing for his death? But the second son looked so anxious—a tall, sturdy man now acting like a headless fly, his dark face flushed with worry. Old Li swallowed back the words he had been about to spit out.

"You..." Old Li steadied his breathing, preparing to ask again about the cleaning of the eldest and third sons' rooms. But Li Feng wouldn't give him the chance. He had taken the rooms, they were his now, and there was no way he was giving them back.

"Father, was it those little brats making too much noise and disturbing you and Mother? Don't worry, I'll go discipline them in a moment!"

"Da-gou has already brought the waste bucket over for you, hasn't he?"

"I'll leave Mother to your care tonight. Da-ya and Er-ya upset Mother today, so I intend to punish them; I won't let them be an eyesore to you. And those boys—they are all little devils. I’ll make them kneel all night to pray for their grandmother. Father, what do you think of my arrangement?"

Old Li's breathing grew heavy again!

Li Feng didn't care. He dragged and shoved the old man into the room, then claimed he was clumsy and useless compared to the eldest and third brothers. He put on such a pitiful act that Old Li didn't know what to say. By the time he realized what was happening, Li Feng had already stepped out and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.

He even locked it!

Now, he couldn't get out even if he wanted to!

Old Li was so angry he smashed half the things in the room. Next door, Li Feng could even hear Mrs. Li wailing.

*Wonderful,* he thought, *it would be cleaner if they just died.* But he couldn't afford to let them die yet—even if they were to die, he had to make sure their deaths were worth something. Dying now would be letting them off too easily!