There are no walls that don’t let the wind through. Two days after Xu Mu’an left, news of his “return to his maiden family” spread like wildfire.
With the main person absent, matchmakers came in droves, disturbing Xiao Jingting endlessly and making him extremely annoyed.
If Xiao Jingting was annoyed, Xiao Xiaodong was even more on high alert, afraid that someone would take advantage of Xu Mu’an’s absence to create trouble.
When Xiao Xiaodong saw those matchmakers bringing people to their door, he would glare at them with his little brother. However, children’s glares didn’t have much threatening power, and the visitors completely ignored Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan.
With people constantly coming and going in the house, often arriving early in the morning, it delayed quite a bit of work.
Driven to desperation, Xiao Jingting came up with a solution. He made two simple water guns out of bamboo for Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong.
Both Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong had had rather dull childhoods with no toys, so after getting the water guns, they immediately treasured them.
Every day Xiao Jingting would leave early, and Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong would play with their water guns in the courtyard. When visitors came to the door, they would spray them with the water guns, soaking those people until they looked like drowned rats. After one day, the results were remarkable. Those young ladies and young men who had come dressed in their finest were left in complete disarray from the soaking. The next day, the number of visitors was cut in half.
…
Meanwhile, Xiao Jinfeng’s whereabouts were elusive and unpredictable. Only after seven days of traveling did Xu Mu’an finally discover traces of Xiao Jinfeng.
When Xu Mu’an found Xiao Jinfeng, his physical condition was very poor. Xiao Ping’s letter had said that Xiao Jinfeng was injured, but when Xu Mu’an found him, he realized that Xiao Jinfeng wasn’t injured—he was poisoned.
Xiao Jinfeng had been poisoned by a type of Caifeng Spider. People poisoned by this toxin would have their spiritual energy gradually corroded, eventually becoming completely powerless waste with not a trace of spiritual power.
The Caifeng Spider’s poison required a fourth-level antidote pill called the Bixin pill to cure. The Bixin pill was worth a thousand taels of silver. A thousand taels of silver was a large sum for some small families, but for the wealthy and powerful Xiao family, it shouldn’t have been a devastating expense.
If the original’s parents were still alive, solving Xiao Jinfeng’s poisoning wouldn’t have been difficult. But now… the ones in charge had become Xiao Jinfeng’s uncle’s family.
After Xiao Jinfeng returned to the Xiao family, Xiao Chengfeng outwardly pretended to be very concerned about Xiao Jinfeng’s situation, having people search everywhere for the antidote pill. But secretly, he repeatedly delayed treating Xiao Jinfeng’s poisoning. When Xiao Jinfeng caused the scandal of allegedly raping Xiao Muhong’s “wife,” Xiao Chengfeng angrily scolded Xiao Jinfeng for being ungrateful and shameless…
Unable to defend himself, Xiao Jinfeng was driven out of the Xiao family.
“Second Brother, come back with me. Jingting sent me to bring you back. As for your poisoning, once we meet up with Jingting, we can slowly figure out a solution, okay?” Xu Mu’an said.
Xu Mu’an thought to himself: Xiao Jingting’s abilities are quite good now. If he’s willing to help, giving him a few months to gather a thousand taels of silver shouldn’t be too difficult.
Xiao Jinfeng shook his head and said, “I understand Jingting’s personality. He can barely manage himself, let alone take care of his second brother. Living with him must be difficult for you. Even if my brother has a change of heart and takes me in out of brotherhood, in my current state, I’d just be a burden to you all.”
“Second Brother, don’t belittle yourself just because you’ve suffered setbacks! Once your poisoning is cured, you’ll be a master again,” Xu Mu’an said.
When he was in the Xiao family, Xu Mu’an had actually admired Xiao Jinfeng greatly. Although Xiao Jinfeng was born into a wealthy family, he didn’t have the ostentatious airs of a rich family’s son. Xiao Jinfeng had joined a mercenary team early on and become self-sufficient. Seeing the once proud and spirited Xiao Jinfeng reduced to this state, Xu Mu’an felt extremely uncomfortable.
Xiao Jinfeng smiled bitterly. His poisoning had been dragging on for so long, it would probably be difficult to cure.
“Brother Jinfeng, just listen to Young Master Xu and go find your brother first. At least find a place to settle down. Young Master Xu came all this way—don’t let down his good intentions!” Mu Shuyu, who had been silent for a long time, said to Xiao Jinfeng.
Xiao Jinfeng looked at Mu Shuyu and smiled bitterly. A few months ago, he had still been the Xiao family’s eldest young master, a squad leader in the mercenary team, with friends all over the world. Now he had become like a rat crossing the street. His former friends all avoided him faster than the next when they encountered him. On the contrary, Mu Shuyu, who had always been distant toward him, had been by his side taking care of him since his downfall. It truly showed that adversity reveals true friendship!
“Yes! Second Brother, your brother really is different from before. When he heard you were injured, before I left this time, he specifically gave me all the silver in the house and told me not to be stingy about buying medicine for you,” Xu Mu’an said.
Mu Shuyu looked at Xiao Jinfeng and pressed on, “Brother Jinfeng, your brother has good intentions. Just go. After all, you’re brothers—even if bones are broken, the tendons remain connected.”
Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Alright.” After the incident, Xiao Jinfeng had contacted his eldest brother Xiao Qingyan, who was studying at Bifeng Academy. Unfortunately, whether Xiao Qingyan was busy with his studies or not, after the letter was sent, it sank without a trace—no response at all.
“After I meet my brother, if Jingting doesn’t want to take care of me, don’t force him,” Xiao Jinfeng said somewhat despondently.
Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jinfeng and said, “Second Brother, Jingting really has changed a lot. Since you haven’t seen him, no matter what I say, you won’t understand. Once you see him, you’ll know.”
Xiao Jinfeng nodded faintly and said, “Alright.”
Hearing Xiao Jinfeng’s disheartened tone, Mu Shuyu knew that Xiao Jinfeng didn’t hold much hope for his brother. “Jinfeng, don’t lose heart! When you reach the mountain, there will be a path. This matter might have a turn for the better.”
Xiao Jinfeng looked at Mu Shuyu and smiled bitterly to himself, thinking: Mu Shuyu is too naive, so he has expectations for that brother. Little does he know, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
When Xu Mu’an brought Xiao Jinfeng and Mu Shuyu back to the Xiao family compound in Tuqiu Village, Xiao Jingting was in the courtyard giving Xiao Xiaofan a bath.
Xiao Xiaofan sat completely naked in a large wooden basin while Xiao Jingting used a water ladle to rinse him. Xiao Xiaofan excitedly played with the water, while Xiao Xiaodong stood with a stern little face, looking quite displeased at this “scandalous” scene.
Seeing Xu Mu’an bringing people in, Xiao Jingting quickly wrapped Xiao Xiaofan in a bath towel and had Xiao Xiaodong take Xiao Xiaofan inside to get dressed.
Xiao Xiaofan reluctantly shuffled in his slippers, following Xiao Xiaodong into the house with lingering attachment.
Xiao Jinfeng watched the two little ones leave, feeling slightly surprised. In Xiao Jinfeng’s memory, Xiao Jingting never had a good expression for his youngest son, yet just now he had witnessed a harmonious father-son scene.
Once in the house, Xiao Xiaofan lay on the bed rolling around, dodging Xiao Xiaodong’s hands.
“I won’t get dressed! I won’t get dressed!”
“Running around naked, aren’t you ashamed? Hmph, bathing in broad daylight—shameless!” Xiao Xiaodong said, full of frustration.
“Not afraid, not afraid! Father said I’m still small, so it doesn’t matter. Brother, why don’t you ask Father to help you bathe too! Father’s baths are very comfortable,” Xiao Xiaofan said while rubbing his little feet.
Xiao Xiaodong blushed and said, “I can wash myself.”
“Oh.” Xiao Xiaofan sprawled on the bed, crawling around everywhere. Watching Xiao Xiaofan’s lazy appearance, Xiao Xiaodong couldn’t help feeling somewhat jealous.
In the courtyard, the atmosphere was a bit tense as the brothers met.
“Second Brother, let’s go inside first,” Xiao Jingting said somewhat awkwardly.
Xiao Jinfeng nodded. After the brothers exchanged pleasantries for a while, Xiao Jingting settled Xiao Jinfeng in his own room, then had Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan bring plenty of food to Xiao Jinfeng and Mu Shuyu.
Seeing that Xiao Jinfeng looked tired, Xiao Jingting didn’t ask many questions and directly urged Xiao Jinfeng to rest.
“Weren’t you going to pick up Second Brother? How did you bring back two people?” Xiao Jingting asked puzzledly.
“Mu Shuyu owes your second brother a life-saving debt. During this time, he’s been the one taking care of your second brother,” Xu Mu’an explained.
Xiao Jingting rolled his eyes, thinking: There’s a saying on Earth that a life-saving debt should be repaid with one’s body. These two have something going on!
“What are you thinking about?” Xu Mu’an asked, seeing Xiao Jingting’s thoughtful expression.
“I was thinking that the house only has three rooms. I originally planned to give my room to Second Brother and squeeze together with you and the two kids, but now there’s one more person,” Xiao Jingting said with some difficulty.
Hearing Xiao Jingting say he would squeeze into one room with him and the children, Xu Mu’an couldn’t help but blush. Although he and Xiao Jingting were husband and wife and had even had two children together, their relationship was very stiff. Both times he had relations with Xiao Jingting, it was when Xiao Jingting was drunk.
“That Mu Shuyu is a ger! Having him share a room with Second Brother might not be appropriate!” Xiao Jingting said.
Xu Mu’an blushed and said, “Actually, when I found Second Brother, he was already living together with Mu Shuyu.”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “I see! That’s good then.”
“How is Second Brother’s situation exactly? Second Brother’s condition doesn’t look very good, so I didn’t ask in detail,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xu Mu’an said, “Your second brother’s mercenary team expended great effort and finally managed to kill a fifth-level demon beast together. But Zhou Kangqi came over to take advantage, saying he had seen that demon beast first and demanding that the mercenary team give the beast to him. Since the mercenary team had worked hard to kill the demon beast, they naturally couldn’t give it to someone else. Both sides got into a conflict, and your second brother, having a quick temper, severely injured Zhou Kangqi.”
“Both parties parted on bad terms. After Zhou Kangqi was injured, he held a grudge against your brother and had someone secretly poison him. Your brother was already injured and then got poisoned, so his strength was greatly reduced.”
“At this point, the Zhou family first pressured the mercenary team, then offered benefits to have the mercenary team expel your brother. Seeing that your brother had lost his backing and couldn’t match the Zhou family’s influence, the mercenary team falsely claimed that your brother had stolen the Zhou family young master’s prey and expelled your brother from the team.”
“Shameless!” Xiao Jingting said angrily.
Xu Mu’an shook his head and said, “The entire mercenary team spoke with one voice. Even if your brother had a hundred mouths, he couldn’t explain clearly! Besides, your second brother isn’t someone who’s good with words.”
Xiao Jingting laughed coldly. When all was said and done, it was because the original’s parents were no longer alive, and their branch of the family had lost power. If the original’s parents were still alive, the mercenary team would be eager to curry favor with them—how could they have framed Xiao Jinfeng like this?
