With the help of Mu Shuyu and Xiao Jinfeng, Xiao Jingting’s pressure was greatly reduced.
On the second day after Xiao Jinfeng took over protective duties, two third-level demon beasts came to cause trouble, and Xiao Jinfeng easily dealt with them.
After seeing Xiao Jinfeng’s demon beast-slaying abilities, Xiao Jingting finally understood how terrible his own combat skills were.
“Second Brother, you’re really amazing,” Xiao Jingting couldn’t help but say.
Xiao Jinfeng shook his head and said, “It’s nothing special. Your traps helped a lot, and besides, the demon beasts that came weren’t particularly fierce.”
“Second Brother, you’re too modest,” Xiao Jingting said.
“Shuyu said you tend your fields very well—better than most fourth-level spiritual plant masters. You clearly have a talent for farming,” Xiao Jinfeng said.
Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “I have two sons to support, so I need to earn more money. Second Brother, you’re about to be a man taking a wife, so you should also save more for your bride price.”
Xiao Jinfeng shook his head helplessly and said, “You!”
After word spread of Xiao Jinfeng’s feat of single-handedly fighting two third-level demon beasts, it quickly attracted the village’s attention. For a time, many villagers shifted their focus from Xiao Jingting to Xiao Jinfeng.
“That Xiao Jinfeng is really impressive—he can handle two demon beasts by himself.”
“I heard he’s Xiao Jingting’s older brother and also a young master of the Xiao family.”
“Young masters from great families are different. Any random one who comes out has such formidable strength.”
“Of course! But this isn’t strange—young masters from great families eat heavenly treasures from childhood. Even a pig would become a golden pig after eating those things.”
“That Xiao Jinfeng isn’t anything special. His moral character is corrupt—he stole other people’s prey and was expelled from the mercenary team. After returning to the Xiao family, he tried to rape his sister-in-law and was driven from the family,” Qiu Li said arrogantly with complete disdain.
“Qiu Li, where did you hear this news?”
“You’re all still in the dark. This matter has spread throughout Mo City. I heard it from traveling merchants. For those young masters, Tuqiu Village isn’t a good place—that young master came here because he couldn’t make it in his original place. Xiao Jinfeng is ungrateful and commits all sorts of misdeeds. Even his fiancée couldn’t stand it and broke off their engagement,” Qiu Li said somewhat proudly.
Qiu Li had originally been considered one of the village’s “talented youth,” but after Xiao Jingting reformed himself, this “talent” was reduced to dust by comparison. After Xiao Jinfeng arrived and the village’s focus centered on the Xiao family brothers, Qiu Li had long harbored resentment.
“Really? That young man looks quite dignified though,” an aunt said.
“You can know someone’s face but not their heart. That Xiao Jinfeng is no good person,” Qiu Li said.
…
After the spiritual plants in several mu of medium-grade fields matured one after another, Xiao Jingting hired several villagers to help with the harvest. Originally, fearing the demon beasts that appeared from time to time, some villagers didn’t dare help. However, with Xiao Jinfeng watching over them, the villagers felt reassured.
Although rumors of Xiao Jinfeng’s low moral character and lustful nature had spread throughout the village, money still needed to be earned. With Xiao Jingting offering high wages, villagers competed to help.
Xiao Jinfeng took a sip of wine, circulated his spiritual power, and paid no attention to the suspicious and inquiring looks from the villagers.
Xiao Jinfeng knew that his bad reputation was spreading everywhere in the village, but he didn’t care much. Having experienced the double betrayal of his mercenary team brothers and family, some village gossip was neither painful nor itchy to him.
Qiu Li had originally been somewhat proud of spreading rumors about Xiao Jinfeng, but when he discovered that the man continued eating what he should eat and sleeping when he should sleep, and that villagers still eagerly ran to help the Xiao family, Qiu Li suddenly felt like he was being a petty villain for nothing.
Qiu Li felt the villagers truly had no integrity—cursing someone as worthless behind their back, then eagerly running to help as soon as Xiao Jingting offered a little money.
Qiu Li has some nerve, the man ready to sell his her brother with his scheming to get money from Jingtin
ofc they chose money. gossip and slander don’t feed them shit.