Xiao Jingting helped Xu Mu’an downstairs. Xu Mu’an’s belly was already very round, giving him a healthy and prosperous appearance.
Mu Shuyu carried Xiao Xiaofu and walked into the Xiao family with Xiao Jinfeng.
Zheng Peier sat beside Xiao Qingyan, with a hint of smugness in her eyes.
“Second brother, third brother, you finally came! We’ve been waiting for you.” Zheng Peier said.
“Congratulations, big brother, on advancing to the sixth level of Qi refining. Among the younger generation of the Xiao family, you now have the highest cultivation level, big brother.” Xiao Jingting complimented.
Xiao Qingyan nodded faintly at Xiao Jingting’s praise, looking down at him and said, “Third brother, I heard that your business is doing well. But as big brother said, you should focus more on cultivation. In this world, cultivation is fundamental.”
Xiao Jingting secretly sneered, thinking: Is Xiao Qingyan trying to lecture him? Just reaching the sixth level of Qi refining is nothing. When the spiritual herbs in his space mature, he can also advance. Xiao Qingyan is seven or eight years older than the original host, and when he reaches Xiao Qingyan’s age, he will definitely reach the sixth level of Qi refining.
“Big brother is right. I will work hard in cultivation and follow big brother’s example.” Xiao Jingting said.
“Working hard in cultivation is correct, but you should not be too eager. Overdoing it will only cause your cultivation to regress.” Xiao Qingyan advised.
“I will heed big brother’s advice.” Xiao Jingting replied perfunctorily.
Xiao Qingyan nodded faintly, full of pride.
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Qingyan’s arrogant demeanor, once again deeply feeling the hierarchical nature of this world, where higher levels can suppress the lower ones.
Zheng Peier’s gaze fell on Xu Mu’an, “Mu’an, I heard that Jingting bought you a storage bracelet. Why didn’t I see you wearing it? Do you think the bracelet is not good enough?”
Xu Mu’an touched his hand and said, “No, it’s just too valuable, so I put it away.” Xu Mu’an thought the bracelet was a bit ostentatious, so he didn’t wear it out. Instead, he kept it in his purse. He didn’t expect Zheng Peier to bring it up.
“Second brother, third brother, your business seems to be doing well! You both have space rings now.” In the academy, there were not many people with space rings. Xiao Qingyan always took pride in having one, but now unexpectedly, both of his younger brothers had them too, which made him feel a bit complicated.
Sitting on the chair, Xiao Jingting said lightly, “It’s just so-so, barely enough to make ends meet.”
“Third brother, you are too modest. With such a profitable business, you should not only think about your second brother, but also consider your big brother.” Zheng Peier reproached.
Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Big brother is busy with important matters and cultivation. How could he care about my small business!”
“You even bought a storage bracelet for your wife, showing that you’ve earned quite a bit. Why be so modest?” Zheng Peier insisted.
Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “I’m just putting on airs. In fact, I didn’t earn much money.” All the money had been exchanged for spirit jade and invested in the spirit spring to fetch water.
Xiao Xiaofu sat on the chair, kicking his feet boredly, while Xiao Yuerong looked at him with resentment.
Xiao Qingyan looked at Xu Mu’an’s bulging belly and said, “Mu’an, you’re pregnant again.”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Yes! Good fortune indeed.”
“Mu’an’s belly is so big now, it must be inconvenient for you to take care of her. Do you want your sister-in-law to introduce some maids to you?” Zheng Peier asked.
Xiao Jingting almost choked on his water at Zheng Peier’s words. Xu Mu’an was still sitting beside him, and Zheng Peier actually said such a thing.
“No need, no need.” Xiao Jingting hurriedly declined.
Zheng Peier said disdainfully, “No need? Why not? Are you still thinking about Sun Miaomiao? Your sister-in-law said that Sun Miaomiao is already your cousin, so there’s no point in thinking about her anymore.”
Xiao Jingting: “…” Which eye of Zheng Peier saw that he was interested in Sun Miaomiao?
“I’m not thinking about Sun Miaomiao. I have Mu’an, and that’s enough.” Xiao Jingting said.
Zheng Peier looked at Xiao Jingting with a hint of sarcasm, “Jingting, you’re really devoted!”
Xiao Jingting felt his scalp go numb from Zheng Peier’s mocking tone, thinking: What does this woman mean?!
Xu Mu’an frowned, his face darkening as he glanced at Zheng Peier.
“Big sister-in-law is so considerate, why not help big brother find a few concubines?” Xiao Jingting said with a smile.
Zheng Peier’s face darkened, and she smiled and said, “I’m just trying to help. It seems that you don’t appreciate it, Jingting. Forget it then.”
Xiao Jingting: “…” Just trying to help, indeed.
Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu walked out of the house, and as soon as they appeared, everyone inside fell silent.
“Everyone’s here! Let’s go eat together,” Xiao Linfeng said.
Xiao Xiaofan tugged at Xiao Jingting’s sleeve, saying, “Finally, it’s time for dinner!” He patted his stomach and added, “I’m starving.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Xiao Yuerong looked at Xiao Xiaofan contemptuously, and Xiao Xiaofan glared back defiantly.
Xiao Jingting and the others sat around the table. Xiao Linfeng turned to Xiao Qingyan and asked, “Qingyan, now that you’ve reached the sixth level of Qi refining, will you not have to go back to the academy often?”
Xiao Qingyan nodded, “Yes.”
“Well, that’s perfect. Big brother can take care of the fields,” Xiao Jinfeng said. Their parents had given Xiao Qingyan four times as much land as himself. With Xiao Qingyan’s high cultivation level, it seemed wasteful to let ordinary people farm those good fields.
Xiao Qingyan frowned but didn’t say anything.
Zheng Peier looked at Xiao Jingting and asked tentatively, “Jingting, I heard you’re good at farming! And the things you grow seem different from others.”
Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “It’s not a big deal. I just plant things randomly.”
“But I heard that the area of ??the fields you manage is almost catching up to those of cultivators at the sixth level of Qi refining,” Zheng Peier said.
Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “That’s thanks to the Spirit Tower I bought before. It seems to have mutated, and its auxiliary effects are particularly good. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to manage so much land.”
Xiao Jingting had nothing to do and soaked the Spirit Tower in the Spirit Spring, instantly making it full of spiritual energy.
“So, third brother, you’ve struck gold?” Zheng Peier asked.
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Indeed, although it’s a bit expensive, it’s worth it.”
“Isn’t it a bit expensive? It’s tens of thousands of taels of silver,” Zheng Peier said sourly.
Xiao Jingting remained silent, and Wang Lu glanced at Zheng Peier and said, “Mind your words, you old hag.”
“Third brother, do you still need help at your store? Your big brother happens to have some free time now,” Xiao Linfeng asked.
Xiao Jingting said, “Mother, my store is just a small business. Big brother is now at the sixth level of Qi refining. It would be too much for him to stay at my little shop.”
After hearing Xiao Jingting’s words, Wang Lu didn’t say anything more.
Xiao Qingyan glanced at Xiao Jingting with a gloomy look in his eyes.
In the evening, Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting returned to the outskirts of the city.
Zheng Peier paced around the house, full of indignation. “That Xiao Jingting guy doesn’t even respect you as his big brother.”
Xiao Qingyan looked at Zheng Peier and said, “Enough, quiet down. It’s just a small shop.”
“It’s not small now. We’ve expanded the storefront,” Zheng Peier replied.
“Even so, I don’t need to go to that shop,” Xiao Qingyan said.
Xiao Qingyan thought to himself: If he were to open a shop, he should start a new one instead of taking over the shops managed by his two brothers, which had been operating for quite some time. Besides, Xiao Jinfeng was the current boss. If he went there, would he be working under Xiao Jinfeng?
Dessert shop.
“Jinfeng, you’re back,”
Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Yeah.”
Li Qing asked puzzled, “Jinfeng, why are you back so early? Weren’t you going to find help? I didn’t see anyone.”
Xiao Jinfeng shook his head and said, “I’ll go another day.”
Sitting down, Xiao Jinfeng leaned on his forehead. When he went to recruit people earlier, he unexpectedly ran into Hua Yufeng.
Xiao Jinfeng remembered Hua Yufeng as someone somewhat arrogant and aggressive, always charging ahead. However, he found Hua Yufeng, along with a group of miserable-looking people, looking for work. Hua Yufeng’s strength had regressed to the second level of Qi refining, and it seemed like his vitality had not fully recovered. He could only do some very simple tasks.
Even heroes fall on hard times. It was truly unimaginable.
According to what Xiao Jinfeng knew, due to several of Hua Yufeng’s decision-making mistakes, many members of the mercenary group held significant grievances against him. So, after the dissolution of the mercenary group, no one cared about Hua Yufeng’s life or death. When faced with adversity, even spouses abandoned each other. If this was the case with spouses, let alone members of a mercenary group. Hua Yufeng was abandoned by those seeking their own paths.
Xiao Jinfeng sighed lightly. Hua Yufeng avoided him when he saw him, and Xiao Jinfeng had no intention of repaying evil with kindness by helping Hua Yufeng find a way out.
Xiao Jinfeng glanced at a few people with little interest and found them unsuitable, so he returned early.
Back then, he offended Zhou Kangqi for the sake of the mercenary group. In the blink of an eye, he was abandoned by the mercenary group. Xiao Jinfeng still remembered Hua Yufeng’s fierce expression at that time. If it wasn’t for his third brother’s help back then, his future prospects would probably have been ruined. He had already done what he should have done, and he couldn’t bring himself to repay evil with kindness. Hua Yufeng’s future would depend on his own fate.
“Master Xiao, business seems to be going well!” Zhou Kangqi said.
Seeing Zhou Kangqi, Xiao Jinfeng’s face immediately darkened. “What are you doing here?”
Zhou Kangqi smiled and said, “I’m just curious! Xiao Jinfeng, you were expelled from the mercenary group and even tried to force yourself on your sister-in-law. Aren’t you afraid of showing your face in public?”
Xiao Jinfeng coldly smiled, “You, a Qi-refining level four cultivator, dare to come and boast in front of me, a Qi-refining level five cultivator? Aren’t you afraid I’ll cripple you?”
Zhou Kangqi was taken aback, then sneered, “Are you trying to provoke a feud between the Xiao family and the Zhou family?”
Xiao Jinfeng waved it off and said, “For you, would the Xiao family and the Zhou family really start a feud? It might be possible if it were your brother.”
Zhou Kangqi looked at Xiao Jinfeng and said, “Do you think that now your eldest brother has reached the sixth level, someone will support you?”
Xiao Jinfeng thought to himself that Zhou Kangqi was really imaginative. Just because he liked to leverage his elder brother’s influence, he thought Xiao Qingyan would support him. In fact, his elder brother was somewhat unreliable.
“Well, my eldest brother has also reached the sixth level now. Your brother’s cultivation level of the sixth level isn’t unique anymore. He won’t be so arrogant,” Xiao Jinfeng said.
Zhou Kangqi was full of arrogance. “My brother is different from yours. My brother advanced to the sixth level of Qi refinement based on his own strength. Your brother, on the other hand, sought quick success and instant benefits, relying on elixirs for advancement. Your brother’s maximum achievement in this lifetime might only be the seventh level of Qi refinement.”
Xiao Jinfeng squinted at Zhou Kangqi and said, “You seem to have quite accurate information. My parents don’t even know about this, but you seem to know it very well.”
Zhou Kangqi sneered and said, “This matter, your brother may have hidden it from your parents, but he can’t hide it from my brother. My brother, like yours, is a student of the Bifeng Academy and knows the rules of the academy very well.”
Xiao Jinfeng nodded and said, “Alright, say what you want. Even if my eldest brother advanced with elixirs, who knows, maybe you won’t even reach the sixth level in your lifetime. But it doesn’t matter, your brother will take care of you for the rest of your life.”
Zhou Kangqi was stung by Xiao Jinfeng’s words.
Having a talented older brother was a good thing, but it was also suffocating.
Xiao Xiaodong leaned on the counter, his eyes bright as he looked at Xiao Jinfeng.
Xiao Jinfeng turned around, looked at Xiao Xiaodong’s expression, and said, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Xiaodong shook his head and said, “Nothing! It seems like Uncle is ruining his future.”
Xiao Jinfeng said impatiently, “Don’t talk nonsense. The matter hasn’t been confirmed yet.”
Xiao Xiaodong rolled his eyes and said, “Second Uncle, you’ve already believed it, haven’t you?”
Xiao Jinfeng glared at Xiao Xiaodong and said, “A child with a big mouth…”
Xiao Xiaofan drank his beverage, blinking, “Brother, Second Uncle, what are you talking about?”
Xiao Xiaodong glanced at Xiao Xiaofan and said, “Children shouldn’t worry about such things.”
Xiao Xiaofan snorted and said, “Annoying! They always treat me like a child, but actually, I know everything.”
Xiao Xiaodong, interested, said, “Oh, you know? What do you know?”
“Uncle took medicine. Uncle is sick,” Xiao Xiaofan said proudly.
Xiao Xiaodong: “…”
“What’s wrong with Uncle?” Xiao Xiaofan asked, puzzled.
Xiao Xiaodong: “…”
Rain : I’ll be posting everyday at midnight UTC , just one chapter .. ;-; I’ll be quite busy this week so I can’t translate much, but I promise you that by the week-end I’ll go back to 2 chapters and 3 on week-end ! ?
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