SPMT : Chapter 71: Visitors

“The land deeds are all here,” Xiao Jinfeng said to Mu Shuyu.

Mu Shuyu looked at the land deeds in his hands, breaking into a brilliant smile. “With these land deeds, as long as we farm well, life should be secure.”

Xiao Jinfeng smiled bitterly. “Third Brother’s farmland is twice mine, and Big Brother’s farmland is four times mine.”

Mu Shuyu patted Xiao Jinfeng’s shoulder. “Come on, we couldn’t manage that much farmland anyway. What we have is enough.” Though Mu Shuyu also felt somewhat unfair for Xiao Jinfeng, this was after all the Xiao family’s internal affairs, so it wasn’t appropriate to say much.

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “You’re right.”

“Actually, your big brother got so much farmland, he won’t have time to cultivate it all!” Mu Shuyu said.

“Big Brother probably wants to lease it out. Actually, Big Brother probably has never farmed before,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Mu Shuyu looked at Xiao Jinfeng with surprise. “Your big brother is already at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement and has never farmed?”

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Yes!”

Mu Shuyu was stunned. Xiao Jinfeng continued sourly, “Big Brother doesn’t worry about food or drink, so there’s no need to farm. Father and Mother always felt that when his strength becomes more formidable, it wouldn’t be too late to farm then.”

“I see. Let’s not talk about him,” Mu Shuyu said. Remembering how Xiao Qingyan looked defeated when heavenly treasures were mentioned that day, Mu Shuyu felt both angry and amused.

Xiao Jinfeng probably felt irritated and took out a jar of wine, opening it to drink. “Third Brother is loyal enough – he gave quite a bit of spirit wine. But lately it’s all outgoing and no incoming. This spirit wine decreases every day, which is really unsettling.”

Mu Shuyu looked at Xiao Jinfeng’s pained expression and said helplessly, “Just drink a little less each day.”

Xiao Jinfeng smiled awkwardly. “I’d like to, but I can’t help myself!”

“You!” Mu Shuyu shook his head teasingly.

Early morning.

Xiao Xiaodong pulled Xiao Xiaofan’s hand as they walked toward Xiao Chengfeng’s courtyard.

Xiao Xiaofan’s little face was flushed with excitement, bouncing as he walked. “Big Brother, watch me later.”

“Mm, we’ll see your performance later. If you ask Great Aunt for money and she won’t give it, just throw a tantrum, hug her legs and bite her…” Xiao Xiaodong suggested.

Xiao Xiaofan blinked, looking confused. “Then Big Brother, if I throw a tantrum, hug legs and bite her, what will you do?”

Xiao Xiaodong cleared his throat. “I’ll cheer you on from the side!”

Xiao Xiaofan’s brain didn’t quite process this, but he nodded. “Okay.”

Seeing Xiao Xiaofan agree so readily, Xiao Xiaodong couldn’t help feeling guilty.

After Liu Xian agreed to give the silver, Xiao Jingting had been thinking about those two thousand taels. Xiao Jingting wasn’t too worried that Liu Xian would renege, but he thought that delays might cause complications – money was only safe once it was in his pocket.

The debtor is the boss. In his previous life, Xiao Jingting had lent money to others, and the hardship of debt collection was indescribable.

Feeling it would be undignified to collect debts himself, Xiao Jingting had a sudden inspiration and thought of the two little ones. So Xiao Jingting shamelessly assigned this glorious and arduous task to the two children.

Xiao Xiaofan, rarely given a task by his father, was immediately excited and patted his chest, guaranteeing he would complete the mission. This made Xiao Jingting, who was using child labor, feel quite ashamed.

“We’re here,” Xiao Xiaodong brought Xiao Xiaofan to the entrance of Xiao Chengfeng’s courtyard.

Xiao Xiaofan nodded and trotted over. “I’ll knock on the door.”

Soon someone came to open the door. When the guard opened the door and saw Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan, his face showed some warmth.

“Young Master Xiaodong, Young Master Xiaofan, why are you here?”

A year ago, if the guard had seen these two, he would have driven the little brats away immediately. But now he spoke amiably with a forced smile. Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan’s status in the Xiao family had been very low before.

“We’re here to get money,” Xiao Xiaofan said with hands on his hips, getting straight to the point.

“Two thousand taels,” Xiao Xiaodong added.

Hearing the commotion, Liu Xian came out from inside. When Xiao Xiaodong saw Liu Xian, he immediately ran toward her like a cat smelling fish, hugging Liu Xian’s thigh. “Grandma, Grandma, two thousand taels, two thousand taels, I’m here to get money.”

Liu Xian hadn’t understood the situation at first, but hearing Xiao Xiaodong’s words, she immediately realized what was happening. Liu Xian cursed Xiao Jingting as a bastard for sending two children to collect debts early in the morning.

Xiao Xiaofan energetically hugged Liu Xian’s other thigh and rubbed against it vigorously. Liu Xian felt increasingly annoyed.

“Here… two thousand taels,” Liu Xian impatiently took out bank notes and handed them over.

Xiao Xiaofan received the bank notes and immediately happily brought them to Xiao Xiaodong. “Brother, check if it’s short.”

Liu Xian looked at Xiao Xiaofan’s money-obsessed expression with disdain.

Xiao Xiaodong counted the bank notes repeatedly, then confirmed, “Nothing’s missing, exactly two thousand taels.”

Liu Xian sneered, thinking: What an idiot, as if I would give less money. That bastard Xiao Jingting clearly only paid fifteen hundred taels in fines but demanded two thousand taels from her – what nerve.

Hearing Xiao Xiaodong’s words, Xiao Xiaofan turned and pounced again, hugging Liu Xian’s thigh. “Grandma, Grandma, red envelope, red envelope.”

Liu Xian gritted her teeth. It wasn’t enough to extort an extra five hundred taels in fines – now they wanted red envelopes too.

Seeing Liu Xian’s expression wasn’t good, Xiao Xiaofan immediately fell to the ground and rolled around, wailing, “I want a red envelope, I want a red envelope.”

Liu Xian, looking at Xiao Xiaofan’s shameless behavior, had no choice but to prepare a red envelope for him.

Xiao Xiaofan took the red envelope and said without thinking, “There are two of us.”

Liu Xian had no choice but to prepare another red envelope for Xiao Xiaodong.

Having achieved their goal, Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan left triumphantly.

Xiao Xiaodong counted the red envelope contents and said gloomily, “Only twenty taels of silver.”

“This grandma is so stingy!” Xiao Xiaofan shook his head.

Xiao Xiaodong nodded. “Right.”

“But twenty taels can still buy lots of candy,” Xiao Xiaofan became happy again.

Xiao Xiaodong pulled Xiao Xiaofan as they walked back. Carrying such a large sum, even within the Xiao family, Xiao Xiaodong still felt somewhat uneasy and unconsciously quickened his pace.

Xiao Xiaofan clutched his red envelope, jogging behind Xiao Xiaodong.

“Where are you going?” Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan were blocked at their doorstep.

Seeing Chen Xijin and Chen Yueling, Xiao Xiaofan unconsciously pouted.

Chen Xijin and Chen Yueling were the sons of Xiao Jingting’s distant cousin Xiao Yi. The original Xiao Jingting had favorable feelings toward this cousin. Xiao Yi occasionally stayed at the Xiao family, and Xiao Jingting, loving the house and its crow, was also very fond of Xiao Yi’s two children. Those who didn’t know would think Xiao Yi’s children were Xiao Jingting’s biological sons.

Though Xiao Xiaodong was precocious, he still craved paternal love. Seeing Chen Xijin and Chen Yueling, who had no relation to Xiao Jingting yet could receive his indulgence, while he and his brother, who were Xiao Jingting’s biological sons, couldn’t get Xiao Jingting’s care, made him very jealous.

Xiao Xiaodong was reserved despite his young age. Even when dissatisfied, he wouldn’t show it. Xiao Xiaofan was different. Once when Chen Xijin showed off a gift Xiao Jingting bought him, Xiao Xiaofan couldn’t stand it and pounced to snatch it – and actually succeeded.

Before Xiao Xiaofan could feel proud for long, Chen Xijin complained to Xiao Jingting. Xiao Xiaofan was severely punished by Xiao Jingting, and even Xu Mu’an was implicated. After that incident, Xiao Xiaofan developed some trauma regarding Xiao Jingting and avoided him for half a month. However, Xiao Xiaofan was forgetful and soon put the matter behind him.

Chen Xijin looked at Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong with confusion. When they came, Xiao Yi had told Chen Xijin and Chen Yueling that Xiao Jingting seemed different this time, and Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong were also different. Chen Xijin thought his mother was exaggerating, secretly pondering that no matter how different these two poor little beggars became, they couldn’t be that different.

Seeing the two now, Chen Xijin felt his mother was right. Looking at Xiao Xiaofan’s clothes, Chen Xijin found them extremely gorgeous and beautiful.

Children all liked bright, colorful things. Xiao Xiaofan’s clothes were already good quality, and they were embroidered with various colorful patterns, looking very festive.

Chen Xijin thought about how his father had recently used all the family money to buy breakthrough pills, then failed to break through, leaving everyone tight on money. He immediately felt envious.

Chen Yueling sharp-eyed spotted the red envelope in Xiao Xiaofan’s hand and immediately said, “What’s that in your hand? Let me see it.”

Xiao Xiaofan pulled his hand back and raised his head. “I won’t show you.”

“If you act like this, Uncle Jingting will come out and hit you,” Chen Yueling said haughtily.

Xiao Xiaofan snorted. “Father doesn’t love you anymore. Father loves Xiao Fan the most. Xiao Fan just helped Father with a big task, so Father won’t hit me.”

“Little fool, just daydreaming,” Chen Yueling said, looking at the red envelope in Xiao Xiaofan’s hand with envy, then pounced to grab it.

During this period, Xiao Xiaofan had been eating things made with spiritual spring water. Though his spiritual energy hadn’t increased much, he had developed considerable strength. He immediately pushed Chen Yueling to the ground.

Seeing this, Chen Xijin shouted, “Little fool, you pushed my sister!”

Xiao Xiaofan said in panic, “I didn’t use force! She fell by herself, it’s not my fault!”

Chen Xijin’s shouting drew Xiao Jingting out.

“Uncle Jingting, he’s bullying people,” Chen Xijin pointed at Xiao Xiaofan.

“Nonsense. Xiao Fan is weak and sickly. He can only be bullied by others, not bully others,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an lowered his head and secretly smiled. Xiao Fan being weak and sickly was in the past. Since Xiao Jingting became who he is now, Xiao Fan had been eating well and his health had improved greatly.

Xiao Yi’s expression immediately changed. Xiao Jingting rubbed his forehead. If not for Xiao Yi’s sudden visit, Xiao Jingting would have forgotten about this woman long ago. Sometimes he didn’t even dare think about what the original had done, but as people the original knew kept appearing, he couldn’t avoid thinking about it.

Xiao Jingting really couldn’t understand how the original’s brain worked – not loving his own sons but insisting on loving other people’s sons.

Xiao Yi came to cry poverty. Xiao Jingting, sick of being cried at and judging others by his own mean standards, could only tell Xiao Yi that he was now deeply in debt and would be finished if he couldn’t repay next month – he really couldn’t help.

After crying for a long time and seeing Xiao Jingting unmoved, Xiao Yi was greatly disappointed.

“Jingting, my son wouldn’t lie,” Xiao Yi said.

Xiao Jingting said coldly, “Cousin, my son is also well-behaved and wouldn’t cause trouble without reason.”

Xiao Yi forced a smile and helped Chen Yueling up. Hearing Xiao Jingting’s words, Chen Yueling said angrily, “Uncle, you won’t even help me for a little fool. I hate you.”

Xiao Jingting smiled. “Go home quickly and act spoiled with your father.” What a foolish girl, actually threatening him. The original spoiled her and made a big deal of her, indulging her tantrums with coaxing and praise, but he wasn’t as stupid as the original.

“Yueling, don’t talk nonsense,” Xiao Yi scolded, but her eyes looked at Xiao Jingting with grievance.

Seeing Xiao Yi wouldn’t speak for her, Chen Yueling snorted angrily.

Xiao Yi smiled awkwardly at Xiao Jingting. “Sorry, children don’t understand.”

Xiao Jingting smiled. “It’s fine. My Xiao Fan and Xiaodong are so well-behaved and really worry-free.” Xiao Jingting reached out and rubbed Xiao Xiaofan’s fluffy head.

Hearing this, Xiao Yi’s expression twisted.

Chen Yueling stared wide-eyed, looking at Xiao Jingting with hurt.

Xiao Jingting avoided the little girl’s wounded gaze.