Chapter 8: Let Father Enjoy a Comfortable and Peaceful Old Age!

Chapter 8

“Father, everything is packed, and the bed is made. Are you going to rest now?”

Big Dog stood nervously before Li Feng.

Cheng You’s room was truly nice.

Spacious and bright.

There was even an oil lamp inside. Grandma came every day to open the windows and air it out, so there was no unpleasant smell.

The bedding was soft, the straw fragrant—not like their own room, damp and foul-smelling!

“Well done!”

Li Feng praised Big Dog generously and, taking advantage of his height, patted him on the head.

Big Dog looked at his father’s gesture without any resistance and leaned his head forward.

His heart blossomed with joy—Father praised him!

He had never been praised by Father before, let alone had his head touched.

From now on, he would listen to Father more. When Father was happy, he would surely praise him more and pat his head even more.

Li Feng felt a bit embarrassed. After patting Big Dog’s head, he immediately regretted it.

My goodness, how greasy and smelly! Both boys were still young, with long hair tied up, and after a whole day under the scorching sun, their heads were oily and sweaty.

Really...

He hid his hand behind his back and discreetly wiped it.

Turning his head, he met the sparkling eyes of Er Niu, full of expectation.

Li Feng, who had a slight germaphobia, sighed inwardly.

Well, fairness first.

He reminded himself to treat everyone equally, so he reached out to pat Er Niu’s head as well.

Er Niu was obedient, carefully leaning his head forward.

Comforted by Father’s touch, Er Niu’s previously turbulent mood calmed considerably.

“Father, Da Mei and San Di have boiled water; you can wash up now!” Er Niu spoke.

Li Feng felt as if he had been pardoned, nodded, put his hands behind his back, and walked outside.

Inside the room, the two boys’ expressions were so excited they nearly danced in place.

Father patted their heads!

“Um…” Li Feng stopped at the door, then turned and saw two boys with their features all over the place.

Seeing their awkward expressions, Li Feng smiled, “Tonight, wash up well, change your clothes, and then bring the younger brothers and sisters to my room!”

...

The bright moon hung high in the sky.

Moonlight slipped through the wooden window, quietly entering the room.

In the modest chamber, a group of children had changed into clean clothes, staring at the pile of steamed meat buns in the center, their mouths watering uncontrollably.

Er Ya and Si Wu Niu were the most unable to resist; saliva dribbled from the corners of their mouths, only to be sucked back in.

Da Ya and San Niu, though able to restrain themselves, their stomachs still rumbled noisily.

Big Dog and Er Niu’s eyes also shone brightly.

Meat buns!

Such white, tender buns.

The room was filled with the fragrant scent of white flour—the kind of delicacy they’d never tasted before.

Watching them, Li Feng sighed silently.

He took out the repackaged milk and poured a bowl for each: “One bowl per person, five buns each. Eat up!”

As he spoke, he opened the system’s market and spent 120 wen to buy three roast chickens.

Seven children had long gone without proper meals; this little feast would solve everything.

No fear of indigestion at all.

If he weren’t worried about their stomachs, he would have given each a whole roast chicken!

Holding the roast chickens, Li Feng returned to the table but found none of them had started eating.

Seeing him come back, the children all rose in unison.

Big Dog said, “Father, you eat first!”

Er Niu added, “Father, please eat first, we’re not hungry yet!”

Da Ya and Er Ya echoed, “Daddy, you eat first!”

San, Si, and Wu Niu chimed in, “Slurp~ Daddy eats first!”

Li Feng was deeply moved—children in ancient times were truly innocent!

He stepped forward, placed the roast chickens on the table, tore off a chicken leg for himself, and pushed the rest forward: “I’ve already eaten. You all eat!”

“Father~”

Big Dog choked up.

Er Niu remained silent.

Da Ya’s eyes glistened with tears, and finally, unable to hold back, she cried.

The younger ones looked confused—wasn’t there food? Why cry?

In the end, under Li Feng’s firm insistence, the children ate until their bellies were round and their faces satisfied.

Seeing them eat, Li Feng took out the digestive tablets and deworming medicine he had bought and handed out three pills to each.

“Take these!”

Without hesitation, they swallowed them straight down.

This was their absolute trust in Li Feng.

Satisfied, Li Feng said, “Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, no need to get up early or work in the fields. Come out with me for a trip!”

“Okay!”

At this moment, Li Feng was a god in the hearts of these children.

They obeyed his every word without question.

After everyone left, Li Feng lay on the bed, hands behind his head, contemplating the future.

Step One: Shake off the identity of Old Ox.

Step Two: Split the family.

Step Three: Shatter the official career dreams of Third Uncle and Eldest Uncle.

Step Four: Send the two elders to their rest.

Step Five: ...

As Li Feng pondered these plans, he slowly drifted into sleep.

Next door, Big Dog and Er Niu could not fall asleep.

Er Niu was the first to speak: “Father didn’t bring food to Grandpa and Grandma today!”

“The money from selling wild boar and honeysuckle wasn’t given to Grandma either!”

“Father even cooked a separate meal for us!”

After Er Niu finished, the room was silent for a while before Big Dog said, “But Father gave the food to us!”

“Father was tired all day. He didn’t even eat lunch and only had one chicken leg for dinner. He, sir...”

“Big Brother, things will get better and better. One day, we’ll definitely make Father live a good life.”

“I’m going to marry a virtuous wife to manage the household so Father can enjoy his life and have a peaceful old age!”

“Mm!” Big Dog replied quietly, and soon the sound of his snoring filled the room.

Seeing this, Er Niu smiled faintly.

He clenched his fists tightly, eyes filled with a lingering sense of injustice.

They were all members of the Li family—so why were their treatments so vastly different?

The eldest branch’s family wore bright clothes and had their own names. Cheng You and Cheng Tai even attended school.

Bao Zhu was pampered, never doing a day of hard work, with fair skin and outstanding looks.

Third Uncle’s daughters, Bao Shu and Bao Zhen, were also cherished like precious pearls, living like daughters of landlords.

So why were his own siblings stuck in the mud?

He was unwilling to accept this.

Before, there was no chance.

Now, Father was changing!

Although it had only been one day, as long as Father remained like this, his dreams might come true.

Unfortunately, Cheng You and Cheng Tai were cunning—they didn’t keep books at home.

He didn’t even have a chance to read.

He had seen Cheng You and Cheng Tai study—they were fools.

One article needed to be read dozens of times before they could stumble through reciting it, full of mistakes.

He could learn it just by listening—if he couldn’t, what else could it be but stupidity?

If he could enter school, he would surely be better than those two dullards.

But he was already sixteen, well past the age to start learning.

No teacher would take him now!

Thinking of this, Er Niu clenched his fists, his eyes burning with stubborn refusal to accept.

...