Xiao Jingting nodded and said casually, “That’s right!” He wanted to redeem those pawn tickets, which could barely be considered owing the pawn shop owner quite a bit of money.
“Daddy, owing people money isn’t good,” Xiao Xiaofan said. Although he wasn’t very smart, he still understood about owing money.
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “That’s right! Owing people money isn’t good, so your daddy is trying to find ways to pay back the debts.”
“Daddy, how are you going to pay back the debts?” Xiao Xiaofan asked curiously.
“Work hard at farming and hunting. I should be able to pay everything off in a while,” Xiao Jingting said with full confidence.
Xiao Xiaofan nodded and raised his little fist to cheer Xiao Jingting on, “Daddy will definitely be able to pay it all back quickly!”
Xiao Xiaodong rolled his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.
Xiao Jingting walked to the edge of the fields and cast the Rain Technique. When planting grapes, Xiao Jingting had discovered that the spirit spring in his space could promote spirit plant growth. Therefore, when casting the Rain Technique, Xiao Jingting drew some spirit water from his space and merged it into the spirit rain.
Xiao Xiaodong watched Xiao Jingting’s movements intently. Those spiritual techniques used for cultivation and their instruction books were all family heirlooms. Xiao Xiaodong did have the right to learn the Xiao family’s techniques, but he was too young and had only been exposed to low-level techniques.
“Father, you’re really amazing! At this rate, this harvest will be quite good.” It was a pity that the other middle-grade and superior fields had all been sold by Father. Otherwise, the quality of the spirit plants grown would have been even better.
Xiao Jingting smiled proudly and said, “Really?”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “Yes!” Xiao Xiaodong thought to himself: If he had Xiao Jingting’s abilities, even tending one mu of vegetable field would be enough.
After watering three mu of fields, it was already noon. Xiao Jingting showed off his excellent fishing skills, catching several fish and making the two little ones’ eyes sparkle with wonder.
Xiao Jingting gave the two little ones two steamed buns each and grilled them each a fish.
Children in this world all had decent appetites. Eating less wouldn’t starve them to death, but eating more, especially eating food containing spiritual energy, would make them stronger.
After casting rain on the spirit fields, Xiao Jingting brought the two little ones back home.
“You’re back—time to eat,” Xu Mu’an called out.
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Great!”
Xu Mu’an ate while observing Xiao Jingting’s expression.
Although Xu Mu’an’s cooking skills weren’t very good, Xiao Jingting wasn’t picky about food. The Tusk Pig meat was rich in spiritual power, and since he was eating a ready-made meal, Xiao Jingting still ate quite a lot.
“My cooking isn’t very good,” Xu Mu’an said with some guilt.
Xiao Jingting raised his head and looked at Xu Mu’an, saying, “No, it’s not bad—very tasty.”
Xu Mu’an felt warm in his heart and thought to himself: If only Xiao Jingting could continue like this forever.
Xiao Xiaofan gnawed on the meat in big bites and looked at Xiao Jingting, saying, “Father’s cooking tastes better than Mother-father’s. Mother-father’s cooking isn’t very good.”
Xiao Jingting flicked Xiao Xiaofan on the forehead in exasperation, “If it’s not good, why are you eating it so enthusiastically?”
Xiao Xiaofan played until he was tired and fell asleep sprawled out on the bed.
“Mother-father,” Xiao Xiaodong sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at Xu Mu’an seriously.
“What is it?” Xu Mu’an asked.
“When we went out today, we ran into Qiu Bai.”
Xu Mu’an’s expression immediately tensed up. Qiu Bai must have seen him selling the pig and come sniffing around. “Did he approach your father?”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “Yes, he said his brother wants to get married and the woman’s family wants twenty taels of silver. Their family doesn’t have enough money, so he asked Father to lend him five taels.”
Xu Mu’an couldn’t help clenching his fists. Five taels of silver—Qiu Bai really thought their family’s silver blew in with the wind!
“Did your father agree?” Xu Mu’an asked. The previous Xiao Jingting had been most tender-hearted toward beauties. If Qiu Bai pleaded with him a few times, Xiao Jingting might well have agreed.
Xiao Xiaodong shook his head and said, “No, Father said he needs to pay back gambling debts and has no money. Mother-father, do you think Father really owes gambling debts outside? Do you think he’s afraid to go out because he owes too much money?”
Xu Mu’an gritted his teeth and immediately became anxious. Gambling debts were different from ordinary debts—they usually carried very high interest rates. With compounding interest, who knew how much money would accumulate?
Gambling houses always kept many thugs. When the time came, they would come looking for the borrower’s family to beat, smash, and rob. If Xiao Jingting had really borrowed silver from a gambling house, then…
Xu Mu’an closed his eyes and said, “Let me think about this.”
If Xiao Jingting could continue like these past few days, then helping Xiao Jingting pay back gambling debts wouldn’t be a big deal. With two Third Level Qi Cultivation practitioners, their lives should gradually improve. But if Xiao Jingting reverted to his old ways after a few days, then what could he do?
