SPMT : Chapter 57: Returning to the Xiao Family

Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Jin Feng and asked, “Brother, do you think we should go back?”

Xiao Jin Feng nodded and replied, “We need to.”

Xiao Jingting remained silent for a moment before saying, “I see… Why do you think so?”

“I don’t have any higher-level cultivation techniques,” Xiao Jin Feng explained.

The reason why large families could stand firm was partly due to their extensive collection of books. After commoners reached the fourth level of Qi Training, it was difficult for them to obtain techniques beyond the fifth level. These techniques were monopolized by large families, making it hard for outsiders to access them.

Xiao Jingting nodded in understanding and said, “That’s true.” As members of the Xiao Family, they could only access techniques one level higher than their current cultivation level. Xiao Jingting’s cultivation technique up to the fifth level of Qi Training had been passed down by Xiao Jin Feng. Without access to higher-level techniques, progressing further would be impossible.

“Has Uncle Xiao returned?” Xiao Xiaofan asked.

“He has,” Xiao Jin Feng confirmed. Originally, Xiao Qingyan had not been doing well at the academy, and after his pursuit of Miss Zheng Peier failed, she felt ashamed and demanded a divorce. After the return of the original owner’s parents, Zheng Peier dared not bring up the matter again.

Puffing out his cheeks, Xiao Xiaofan looked worried. “Xiaofan really hates Uncle Xiao!”

Seeing Xiao Xiaofan’s expression, Mu Shuyu asked, “Why do you hate Uncle Xiao?”

“Uncle Xiao called me an idiot and gave birth to two annoying ghosts,” Xiao Xiaofan complained, resting his chin on his hand with disdain.

Mu Shuyu smiled, sharing Xiao Xiaofan’s dislike for Xiao Qingyan but refraining from commenting.

Xu Mu’an looked at the two children with some concern, while Xiao Jingting said to Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong, “If you don’t like it at the Xiao Family, we can request a separate courtyard for you later.”

Xiao Xiaofan’s eyes immediately lit up at the suggestion.

Although Xiao Jingting didn’t particularly like the Xiao Family, he still wanted to take a look at Mocheng. Tuchou Village was too small and limited their development. Xiao Jingting still had some longing for the big city.

“Let’s prepare well. If we’re going back to the Xiao Family, we need to get ready,” Xu Mu’an suggested.

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll have to deal with the fields.” Especially those few acres of prime land—those overdue fines were terrifying.

…

“Third Steward, where are we staying tonight?” one of Xiao San’s attendants asked.

“Sir, let’s find an inn in the city,” Xiao San replied.

When Xiao San came to Tuchou Village, he thought Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jin Feng were living in dire straits. He assumed they would be overjoyed to see him and immediately leave with him. But upon his arrival, he realized things were not as he had imagined.

Whenever villagers mentioned the two young masters, they were full of envy, jealousy, and admiration. It was said that the few acres of land cultivated by Xiao Jingting yielded five to six thousand taels of silver every month, allowing them to live quite well.

With a monthly income of five to six thousand taels, that was over twenty spirit stones. The favored young masters of the Xiao Family received only two or three spirit stones a month from the family.

The two young masters, Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan, who were raised in the Xiao Family, were chubby and well-groomed, unlike the withered ones in the Xiao Family.

Xiao Jin Feng had also gotten married, and contrary to everyone’s expectations, he did not sulk after being rejected by Miss Sun Miaoyin. He got married and even had children.

“I didn’t expect Master Jingting to become so diligent after coming to Tuchou Village,” one of the attendants remarked.

Xiao San nodded in agreement. Hearing that Xiao Jingting, Xiao Jin Feng, Xu Mu’an, and even Mu Shuyu had all reached the fourth level of Qi Training, he realized that they were among the top talents in the younger generation of the Xiao Family. Xiao Jingting, who was once considered the weakest in the family, had even relied on medicinal herbs to boost his cultivation.

When Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jin Feng returned to the Xiao Family, they would surely earn the admiration of the family members.

Mu Shuyu held his child in his arms and spun around Xiao Jin Feng happily.

“Shuyu, what’s wrong?” Xiao Jin Feng asked.

“We’re about to meet your parents soon, and I’m a little worried. Do your parents not like gers?” Mu Shuyu said.

Mu Shuyu had never met Xiao Jin Feng’s parents and felt nervous. These days, he had been consulting with Xu Mu’an. However, even Xu Mu’an wasn’t liked by Xiao’s father and mother. If it weren’t for Xiao Jingting’s lack of progress and the inability to find a suitable person for him, Xu Mu’an might have been divorced long ago.

Xiao Jin Feng lowered his head and said gloomily, “You don’t need to worry too much. My parents care most about my eldest brother. They’ve never paid much attention to me. If you’re uncomfortable at the Xiao Family, wait until I obtain the cultivation technique for the sixth level of Qi Training, and we’ll move to another courtyard.”

Mu Shuyu nodded and replied, “That sounds good.”

Xiao Jin Feng lowered his head, thinking to himself: His eldest brother was actually a very jealous person. If he and Xiao Jingting both advanced to the fifth level of Qi Training, his brother might not be able to accept it. His hidden technique was not very sophisticated; it could fool ordinary villagers, but deceiving parents at the eighth level of Qi Training and a grandfather at the ninth level would be difficult. It would be better to avoid Xiao Qingyan as much as possible after returning.

When he was younger, Xiao Jin Feng used to think about doing things to attract his parents’ attention, but now his thoughts had faded a lot.

Mu Shuyu tilted his head and said, “Jingting said that fortunately, the latest batch of spirit wine hasn’t been sold yet. He said this batch won’t be sold, so remember to keep it.”

Xiao Jin Feng raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat pleased. “Jingting is really considerate!”

…

Xiao Family’s main house.

Xiao Muhong sat on the side, drinking sullenly. “Stop drinking,” Sun Miaomiao walked over and said.

Xiao Muhong lowered his head, his eyes full of resentment. Since Xiao Linfeng’s return, everything had changed. Grandfather’s attention was once again focused on the second branch.

His father, who had been in a tumultuous state, his third and fourth uncles had been forced to join forces.

“Xiao Jingting is coming back. Are you regretting it?” Xiao Muhong asked Sun Miaomiao.

Sun Miaomiao said coldly, “If you continue to be so self-defeating, then I might regret it. Don’t be so disheartened. Your second uncle is only at the eighth level of Qi Training. You’re already at the fifth level. With a little more effort, you have a chance to reach the eighth level at your second uncle’s age. Second Uncle Xiao Qingyan clashed with others at the academy and seemed to have damaged his meridians, so his cultivation has been slow to progress. Xiao Jin Feng was poisoned, so his achievements are limited. As for Xiao Jingting, it goes without saying. With the Xiao Family’s future, most of it will likely be yours.”

A gleam flashed in Xiao Muhong’s eyes.

Seeing Xiao Muhong perk up, Sun Miaomiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After Xiao Linfeng’s news of survival came back, Sun Miaomiao actually regretted marrying Xiao Muhong in haste. But since she had married him, she could only follow him to the end.

Thinking of Xiao Jingting, Sun Miaomiao’s heart became more complicated. Xiao Jingting had always revolved around her, serving her like a lackey. She wondered how he was now. If Xiao Jingting’s feelings for her hadn’t changed, perhaps that fool could be a good pawn.

…

“Father, Mother, I’m glad you’re alive. I’ve been suffocating during this time. Zheng Peier, that despicable woman, took advantage of my weakness and actually wanted to divorce me. I want to divorce her…” When Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu returned, Xiao Qingyan seemed to have found someone to confide in and poured out his grievances.

Xiao Linfeng looked at Xiao Qingyan, who kept complaining, and said earnestly, “You’re not young anymore. It’s time for you to stand on your own.”

“Xiao Qingyan, what’s going on between you and that Miss from the Marquis’s mansion? You already have a wife, yet you’re still causing trouble with the Miss from the Marquis’s mansion. If the Marquis’s family finds out, you won’t be able to handle the consequences.” Wang Lu said.

Xiao Qingyan awkwardly replied, “I naturally wouldn’t dare to pursue the legitimate Miss from the Marquis’s mansion, but I was pursuing a concubine-born lady. When we were at the academy, she seemed interested in me, but… Like mother, like daughter. She changed her attitude in an instant.”

Xiao Linfeng sighed and said, “You should stay away from that girl. Everything has changed since I returned. Your second brother was expelled from the mercenary group and accused of coveting his brother’s wife. Sun Miaoyin from the Sun family also annulled her engagement with your younger brother. The Sun family’s old man came over to beg for the annulment. I didn’t expect the situation to change so quickly.”

“Why didn’t you help your second brother when he got into trouble? You’re brothers. If you gain power in the future, with your second brother’s temperament, if you help him, he’ll surely help you,” Wang Lu advised.

Xiao Linfeng nodded and said, “Yes, it’s hard to stand alone.”

Hearing Xiao Qingyan mention Xiao Jingfeng, Xiao Qingyan felt uncomfortable. Xiao Jingfeng’s reputation was tarnished, and students at the academy would mock him whenever they had the chance. Xiao Jingfeng had long been tired of it and wished his brother didn’t exist.

Xiao Qingyan thought to himself: Xiao Jingfeng is just a brute, and he’s also been poisoned. He’ll probably only reach the fourth level of Qi Training in this lifetime. There’s no point in hoping for Xiao Jingfeng’s help; he might as well go hungry.

“Your second and third brothers are actually getting along now. I didn’t notice it before, but their relationship seems quite good. Your third brother has been pampered since childhood. Being sent to such a place, he must have suffered a lot. When they come back, you brothers should get along well,” Wang Lu said.

Xiao Qingyan nodded, but he thought to himself that his third brother was just a useless person who clung to women’s coattails all day. If Sun Miaomiao became his sister-in-law, he might spend his days revolving around her, indulging in some vulgar activities. Getting along well with his third brother might only tarnish his reputation.

As Xiao Qingyan walked out, Zheng Peier stood at the door with her two sons, looking at Xiao Qingyan with a somewhat embarrassed smile.

Xiao Qingyan snorted. Since his parents’ death, Zheng Peier had constantly criticized him, which had made Xiao Qingyan annoyed with her.

Xiao Qingyan’s two sons, Xiao Yuefeng and Xiao Yuerong, ran to Xiao Qingyan and acted spoiled. Xiao Qingyan was dissatisfied with Zheng Peier but treated his two sons, whom he had loved since childhood, quite well. Seeing his two sons acting spoiled by his side, his expression softened slightly.

“Daddy, I heard that the little fool is coming back. Is that true?” Xiao Yuerong asked.

Xiao Qingyan nodded and said, “Yes.”

“The little fool is really lucky! Being sent to such a place and still managing to survive,” Xiao Yuerong said disdainfully.

Xiao Qingyan rubbed Xiao Yuerong’s face and said, “You dislike him so much?”

“He’s dirty and stupid. With such a cousin, I’m embarrassed,” Xiao Yuerong said disdainfully, hands on hips.