SPMT : Chapter 63 – Conflict Between Little Children

The day after returning home, Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng went together to inspect the fields.

The Xiao family owned over ten thousand mu of farmland. Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu owned about a thousand mu, including about a hundred mu of premium fields.

Around the fields, squads of third-layer Qi Refining guards patrolled. When the guard members encountered Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng, they all bowed respectfully in greeting.

Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng now had great reputations, and the guards were very respectful toward them both.

What Xiao Jingting saw at the Xiao family was a completely different scene from the village. Hundreds of spirit plant masters were busy in the fields, and golden earth-turning earthworms burrowed back and forth through the farmland.

Dozens of mu of premium fields stretched in continuous patches, with each field containing only a sparse few spirit plants.

“Fifth-grade and above spirit plants can only be grown in premium fields. This grade of spirit plants requires high spiritual energy, and they have a strong territorial consciousness – they can’t be planted too close to each other,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting nodded in understanding. Fifth-grade and above spirit plants were extremely expensive because they were extremely difficult to grow successfully. The fifth-grade spirit plants planted in the fields could die if one wasn’t careful, and even small weather problems could cause issues with the spirit plants.

“Very few high-grade spirit plants can be cultivated. Most high-grade spirit plants have special requirements for growing conditions and will wither if planted in fields,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting said with admiration, “The Xiao family really has a lot of farmland!”

Xiao Jinfeng smiled and said, “The Xiao family is one of the four great families of Han City, after all.”

Xiao Muhong walked over with Sun Miaomiao. “Are the two cousin brothers here to inspect the clan lands?”

“Just came to have a casual look,” Xiao Jingting said, glancing at Sun Miaomiao indifferently, not bothering to hide the disgust in his eyes.

Facing Xiao Jingting’s gaze, Sun Miaomiao’s heart sank.

Xiao Jingting exchanged a few pleasantries with Xiao Muhong before leaving.

Xiao Muhong looked at Xiao Jingting’s departing figure with complete surprise. He had originally thought that after Xiao Jingting returned, he would run to brothels, but instead, as soon as he came back, he went to inspect clan lands with Xiao Jinfeng. How strange.

“Miaomiao, are you alright?” Xiao Muhong asked.

Sun Miaomiao shook her head, “I’m fine.”

Previously, when Xiao Jingting encountered her, he would have a drooling, lecherous look. Just now when Xiao Jingting saw her, it was as if he’d seen something filthy.

Sun Miaomiao had originally been somewhat worried that when Xiao Jingting returned and encountered her, he would relentlessly pester her, but she hadn’t expected that after returning, Xiao Jingting would avoid her like avoiding a cockroach.

After getting rid of Xiao Muhong and Sun Miaomiao, Xiao Jinfeng looked at Xiao Jingting with a strange expression. Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Jinfeng and said, “Second Brother, why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just somewhat surprised that seeing Sun Miaomiao, you remained completely unmoved,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

“She’s a beauty, but she’s my sister-in-law now, so naturally I need to keep clear boundaries with her,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Jinfeng smiled and said, “It’s good that you can think this way.”

Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting were walking and chatting in the fields when a guard hurried over and said to Xiao Jingting, “Young Master Jingting, something’s wrong – there’s trouble at home.”

“What happened?” Xiao Jingting asked.

“Young Master Xiaofan and Young Master Yuerong got into a fight. Madam Xu Mu’an asked me to inform you,” the guard said.

“Who won?” As soon as Xiao Jingting’s words left his mouth, he immediately realized they seemed somewhat inappropriate. “Was anyone injured?”

“Young Master Xiaofan used a brick to crack open Young Master Yuerong’s head.”

Xiao Jingting immediately became more composed, thinking: It’s good that my son didn’t suffer a loss. Xiao Yuerong is so fat – you can tell he’s thick-skinned, so the injury is probably not serious.

Xiao Jinfeng frowned and said, “We should hurry back. Father and Mother dote on their grandson Xiao Yuerong the most. If Xiaofan cracked his head open, this matter won’t end well.”

Xiao Jingting felt this made sense. His parents didn’t value Xiaofan but treated Xiao Yuerong like a precious treasure. If this matter reached his parents, Xiaofan would definitely suffer.

Xiao Jingting released the Fire Cloud Bird from his beast-taming talisman. He and Xiao Jinfeng both rode on the Fire Cloud Bird and rushed back to the Xiao family at high speed.

In the Xiao family’s main hall, Xiao Xiaofan knelt on the ground with a stern little face, full of unwillingness.

Xu Mu’an frowned, looking at Xiao Xiaofan with a face full of worry.

Zheng Pei’er twisted the handkerchief in her hands, alternately sobbing and looking at Xiao Xiaofan with resentment.

“What happened?” Xiao Linfeng asked.

“Xiaofan hit Rongrong with a brick! Rongrong is still so small, and he made his head bloody,” Zheng Pei’er said with an accusatory expression.

“He deserved it. I already said I wouldn’t play with him, but he insisted I be his horse to ride. I don’t want to be his horse,” Xiao Xiaofan said angrily.

Zheng Pei’er looked at Xu Mu’an with hatred and said, “Xu Mu’an, how did you educate your child? You’ve raised him to be so unreasonable and rude, bullying others at such a young age.”

“Sister-in-law can’t say that. Xiaofan is only four years old, while Yuerong is already over five. Looking at their builds, if the two fought, Yuerong would have the advantage,” Mu Shuyu said.

“What kind of thing are you? Shamelessly seducing Xiao Jinfeng and getting carried away with yourself. Do you think that by getting pregnant before marriage and bearing Xiao Jinfeng’s son, your position is secure? Dream on.” Zheng Pei’er came from the Zheng family, one of the four great families of Mo City, and had always looked down on people of humble origins in the family. Mu Shuyu came from a poor family but had somehow managed to advance to the fifth layer of Qi Refining, which made Zheng Pei’er very uncomfortable.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, you’ve spoken out of turn,” Xiao Linfeng said.

Xiao Linfeng still thought highly of Mu Shuyu. The Sun family’s broken engagement had embarrassed the Xiao family. Although Xiao Jinfeng returning with a child and wife caused controversy, Xiao Linfeng felt it restored some face. Mu Shuyu’s attributes and abilities were both good, so Xiao Linfeng was quite satisfied.

“Father, Yuerong got his head cracked open – my heart aches!” Zheng Pei’er sobbed.

“Little brother was defending himself. Xiao Yuerong grabbed little brother’s hair first and insisted little brother be his horse. He’s so fat and little brother is so thin – if little brother became his horse, he’d be crushed flat,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

When Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Yuerong fought, Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Yuefeng also clashed, but they were discovered early and pulled apart.

“When adults are talking, why are children interrupting? No manners,” Xiao Qingyan said angrily.

In Xiao Qingyan’s memory, Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong were both quiet and submissive. But this time when they returned, these two brats dared to fight with his son.

“You adults are bullying us with numbers, that’s why I’m speaking up,” Xiao Xiaodong said defiantly.

The people in the hall were at an impasse when Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng walked in. Seeing Xiao Jingting enter, Xiao Xiaofan seemed to have found his support – he got up from the ground and threw himself into Xiao Jingting’s embrace, calling out “Daddy.”

Seeing that Xiao Xiaofan had made such a big mistake but still wasn’t kneeling properly, Zheng Pei’er’s expression became even uglier.

“Third Brother is back,” Zheng Pei’er said coldly.

Xiao Jingting nodded, “I’m back.”

“The bastard you raised beat his cousin like this – he was trying to commit murder!” Zheng Pei’er said.

Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, what nonsense are you talking about? It’s normal for children to have little scuffles. What’s all this talk about death? Xiaofan started learning late, has low cultivation, and his body was previously weakened, so his strength is very small. Even if he hit Yuerong, how much damage could he really do? Sister-in-law, you’ve wrapped Yuerong’s bandages so thick – be careful not to smother your son!”

Zheng Pei’er’s face contorted, “Third Brother, what do you mean? Are you saying I’m making a big fuss over nothing?”

Xiao Jingting smiled but didn’t respond to Zheng Pei’er. He asked Xiao Xiaofan, “Son, what happened?”

“The fat boy wanted me to be his horse to ride. I didn’t want to be his horse. He pulled my hair and kicked me, so I picked up a brick and hit him with it. I accidentally hurt him, then the fat boy made a big fuss, crying and wailing…” As Xiao Xiaofan spoke, he exaggeratedly imitated Xiao Yuerong crying and wailing.

Xiao Jingting found it amusing but suppressed his laughter. He glared at Xiao Xiaofan without real anger and said, “What fat boy? That’s your cousin.”

Xiao Jingting looked at Zheng Pei’er and said, “Sister-in-law! How did you raise your son so fat? He’s so fat, yet wants my thin son to be his horse?”

Zheng Pei’er’s face darkened. Xiao Yuerong had been pampered since childhood and ate well, so he was indeed somewhat chubby, but not excessively so. Xiao Xiaofan used to be thin, but now he was plump – she couldn’t see where he was thin.

“Third Brother, what do you mean? Are you trying to shirk responsibility?” Xiao Qingyan said.

“It’s just children playing and fighting. Big Brother, you’re making it like a three-court trial, making people laugh for no reason,” Xiao Jingting said defiantly.

“My son was nearly killed by your son,” Xiao Qingyan said.

“Big Brother, Xiaofan is still a year younger than your son, yet your son couldn’t even beat Xiaofan and needs you to stand up for him…” Xiao Jingting said mockingly.

Wang Lu sighed lightly and said, “Jingting, your son was too harsh. Using such force against his cousin – when he grows up, he’ll be hard to discipline.”

Hearing Wang Lu’s words, Xiao Jingting knew she was going to side with Xiao Qingyan in supporting punishing Xiao Xiaofan.

“Mother, you can’t say that! My son is very well-behaved. During busy farming seasons, he even helps make fires and cook at home. When I was busy in Tuqiu Village, the two little ones would make fires, cook, and bring food. They get along well with the village children and never fight or cause trouble,” Xiao Jingting said.

When Xiao Jingting mentioned Tuqiu Village, Wang Lu’s face immediately showed traces of guilt.

Zheng Pei’er said with a dark face, “Third Brother means the problem is with my son then.”

Xiao Jingting shrugged and said, “Sister-in-law, you can’t force a bitter melon to be sweet. My son already said he wouldn’t play with your son, but he still insisted on dragging my son to play. Now that something happened, you’re blaming it all on my son – how can that work?”

Xiao Jinfeng stood to the side and said, “Sister-in-law, where did your son get the bad habit of making people be his horse? There are plenty of horses in the family stables – why look for his cousins?”

Seeing Xiao Jinfeng standing up for Xiao Jingting, Xiao Qingyan said through gritted teeth, “Second Brother, are you going to unite with Third Brother against me now?”

Xiao Jinfeng glanced at Xiao Qingyan and said, “Big Brother, you’re overreacting. I’m just discussing the matter at hand.”

Zheng Pei’er looked at Wang Lu and said, “Mother, Yuerong is your own grandson, yet he was beaten like this.”

Xiao Jingting scoffed and said, “From what sister-in-law says, it’s as if my son isn’t Mother’s own grandson.”

“Didn’t you always say your son was a bastard born from Xu Mu’an’s adultery with someone else?” Zheng Pei’er said mockingly.

Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Those were just casual words I said – why did sister-in-law take them seriously? Xiaofan looks like me – how could he not be my son?”

“Enough! All of you shut up! You’ve only been back one day and you’re already fighting among yourselves. All of you go back and reflect behind closed doors,” Xiao Linfeng said angrily.

Xiao Jingting picked up Xiao Xiaofan and said, “In that case, Father and ‘Mother’, I’ll take these two brats back to reflect.”