The Xiao Family.
“Mother, I ran into a little fool today,” Xiao Yuefeng suddenly said at the dining table.
Zheng Peier looked puzzled. “Where did you see him?”
“At the stone gambling place, Mother. The little fool went gambling on stones,” Xiao Yuefeng replied.
Zheng Peier was taken aback. Xiao Jingting used to love gambling on stones whenever he had the chance, but this time he hadn’t gambled much since returning. She never expected the little fool to start gambling already. How did Xiao Jingting teach the kids?
“He went alone?” Zheng Peier asked.
“No, Second Uncle accompanied him,” Xiao Yuefeng replied.
Hearing this, Xiao Qingyan raised his head and looked at Xiao Yuefeng with suspicion. “Since ancient times, you need a lot of money to fill the stone gambling place. Without several thousand or tens of thousands of taels of silver, people wouldn’t dare to enter. Does the little fool have so much money?”
“The little fool picked a lot of stones, and it turned out to be over 8,000 taels in total. He had 3,000 taels himself, Xiao Dong lent him another 3,000 taels, and Uncle Er provided the remaining 2,000 taels,” Xiao Yuefeng explained.
“8,000 taels? Son, are you mistaken? Isn’t it 800 taels?” Zheng Peier’s eyes widened involuntarily.
8,000 taels! That was a huge sum of money! Xiao Qingyan only gave her a few hundred taels of silver for her monthly expenses. Fortunately, her family provided some financial support, or she wouldn’t even be able to afford clothes and jewelry.
How could Xiao Xiaofan just a little boy, have 3,000 taels of silver to spend? Xiao Yuefeng shook his head. “I saw it with my own eyes, Mother. You can ask third uncle if you don’t believe me. It’s indeed 3,000 taels. The little fool bought a bunch of worthless stones.”
“…,” Zheng Peier couldn’t understand what Xiao Jingting was thinking. How could he give the children so much money?
Xiao Qingyan squinted. He had visited Xiao Jingfeng’s shop today and found that the business was really good. It was said that the weather was bad today, so the business was considered bad. Xiao Qingyan had always thought that the business in the shop mentioned in Zheng Peier’s letter was exaggerated. It wasn’t until he went to see it himself that he realized how good the business really was.
Previously, Father and Mother had intended for him to help his younger brothers, but he didn’t take it seriously at the time. Now, if he were to mention it again, it might be too late. Xiao Qingyan secretly regretted his carelessness.
“Mother, didn’t you say that children don’t need much pocket money? But the little fool has 3,000 taels,” Xiao Yuefeng complained.
Zheng Peier frowned. “Stop causing trouble.”
Xiao Yuefeng muttered, “Mother, you’re too stingy. Look how generous Third Uncle is with the little fool. If I want to buy a toy, you won’t buy it for me.”
Xiao Yuefeng didn’t mean anything by it, but Xiao Qingyan listened with intent. Xiao Qingyan thought to himself: He didn’t fare well. In the past, everything in the family belonged to him. Now, his younger brother had opened a beverage shop, which made him much more prosperous.
Xiao Jingting received the things Xiao Xiaofan had gained from gambling on stones, and he was excited beyond measure, not even eating dinner.
Xiao Xiaofan originally wanted to inform Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an to eat, but Xiao Dong stopped him.
Xiao Dong thought that their parents might be preoccupied with each other, so she stopped Xiao Xiaofan and had him eat some buns and steamed buns before going to bed. Although Xiao Xiaofan was reluctant, he reluctantly accepted.
Early the next morning, the whole family gathered for breakfast as usual.
“Son, the stones you bought yesterday were quite good,” Xiao Jingting rubbed Xiao Xiaofan’s head and praised him.
Xiao Xiaofan was excited. “Yes, they were! Those stones feel very comfortable to touch! I knew you would like them, Dad. Brother even said I was wasting money, and Second Uncle said not to make it a habit.”
“How can stones feel comfortable to touch?” Xiao Jingting was puzzled.
Xiao Xiaofan tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said, “I don’t know! They just feel very comfortable!”
Xiao Dong looked at Xiao Xiaofan strangely but didn’t say anything.
Xiao Dong originally thought it was a waste for his brother to buy stones, but seeing his brother cry and throw a tantrum, as if he wouldn’t agree if they didn’t, he had to compromise.
Xiao Dong immediately thought that seeing their parents’ reaction now, yesterday’s pile of things might have something good. Did their little brother just stumble upon a treasure by chance?
Xiao Jingting glanced at Xiao Dong and said, “Xiao Dong, the soft pillow you gave is nice.”
Xiao Dong smiled and replied, “Thank you, Dad.”
While the family was eating, Xiao Jingting received a message from Xiao Linfeng asking him to return to the Xiao family quickly.
“What’s going on?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Xiao Jingting frowned and replied, “I don’t know. Father wants us to come back immediately.”
Xu Mu’an was puzzled. “Why suddenly ask us to go back?”
Xiao Jingting shook his head. “I don’t know. Seems urgent.”
“I know what it is,” Xiao Xiaofan raised his hand.
“What do you know?” Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Xiaofan and asked.
“It must be Eldest Uncle having trouble from taking medicine. That’s why Grandpa is urgently calling you. Eldest Uncle really doesn’t know any better, at his age, he’s still taking medicine. Even I know you shouldn’t do that,” Xiao Xiaofan sighed and shook his head.
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Why was his son so fixated on Xiao Qingyan taking medicine?
“Let’s eat quickly,” Xiao Dong placed two pieces of meat into Xiao Xiaofan’s bowl, making Xiao Xiaofan feel pleasantly surprised.
“They’ve all arrived!” Xiao Qingyan glanced at Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng.
Xiao Jingting nodded and asked, “Father, why did you summon us?”
Xiao Linfeng’s face was grim. “We just received an order from the Marquis’s Mansion to have all major families in the Mo City participate in the grand competition organized by the Marquis’s Mansion.”
Curious, Xiao Jingting asked, “Father, what’s this grand competition? Is there a reward?”
Xiao Linfeng glanced at Xiao Jingting and replied, “Of course, there are rewards! And they’re quite generous. However, very few people who participate in the competition manage to survive. Most of those who receive rewards are the young people of the Marquis’s Mansion.”
Xiao Jingting looked puzzled. “Why do so few people survive?”
“To ensure the absolute control of the Marquis’s Mansion, they don’t want too many geniuses emerging from the cities under their jurisdiction. So, the competition is actually a conspiracy. With high rewards, it stimulates the participants to kill each other,” Xiao Linfeng explained.
Xiao Jingting: “…” This world is truly terrifying! However, with limited resources, it’s not surprising that they would kill each other to compete for them.
“In the Marquis’s Mansion, there are people your age who have reached the seventh or even eighth level of Qi training. Compared to them, you have no competitive edge.”
“Moreover, according to past practices, the competition uses a point system. At the beginning of the competition, the Marquis’s Mansion will give each participant an iron token, which is worth ten points. Winning tokens from other participants can earn you points,” Xiao Linfeng continued.
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Isn’t the Marquis’s Mansion forcing the participants to kill each other?
“In case you encounter formidable opponents, just give away your token,” Xiao Jingting suggested.
Xiao Qingyan disdainfully glanced at Xiao Jingting and said, “You have such little ambition, surrendering before even fighting.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Encountering a formidable opponent, it seemed reasonable to prioritize survival. It’s more tragic to die a hero’s death. Besides, as someone who has died once already, he doesn’t value “courage” that much.
“Your choice isn’t wrong either. However, when you encounter the first formidable opponent, perhaps they’ll spare you because you willingly gave up your token. But for the second one, they won’t believe that you threw away your token. They’ll think you hid it, kill you, and then search your body,” Xiao Linfeng said coldly.
Xiao Jingting swallowed hard, feeling his heart pounding wildly. Oh, what a terrifying world! How could he survive in this?
“Father, can’t we just not participate in the competition?” Xiao Jingting asked.
“Previously, there were people from a city who united and chose not to participate due to the high casualties in the Marquis’s Mansion-organized competitions,” Xiao Linfeng said, abruptly stopping.
Xiao Jingting widened his eyes with curiosity, and Xiao Qingyan scornfully glanced at him before continuing, “As a result, the Marquis’s Mansion sent out two Foundation Establishment experts and slaughtered the several major families from that city who were invited but didn’t send representatives.”
Xiao Jingting took a deep breath. In this world where skilled killers weren’t prosecuted, it was truly embarrassing!
“This time, the Marquis’s Mansion sent invitations to the four major families in our Mo City. Participants must be at least at the fifth level of Qi training and under forty years old. The three of you are eligible. Mo City ranks third from the bottom among the thirty-six cities under the Marquis’s Mansion’s jurisdiction. Sometimes we don’t even receive invitations. But this time…” Xiao Linfeng’s voice was low, with a lingering worry between his brows.
“Father, don’t worry. I heard that the top ten participants in this competition will receive Ice Heart Pills as rewards. I will definitely perform well and bring glory to you,” Xiao Qingyan said confidently.
“Just do your best,” Xiao Linfeng replied.
Xiao Jingfeng narrowed his eyes. Generally, the higher the reward, the greater the danger in the competition. Participants would disregard everything for the reward. From his father’s attitude, Xiao Jingfeng easily sensed that his father didn’t seem to have much confidence in his eldest brother.
“In that case, can we just find a place to hide once we’re inside?” Xiao Jingting asked.
Xiao Linfeng nodded. “That’s possible. However, many participants are proficient in tracking techniques, so it won’t be easy to hide.”
“Third brother, why are you always thinking of escaping?” Xiao Qingyan asked.
Xiao Jingting smiled awkwardly and replied, “Father said there will be participants at the seventh and eighth levels of Qi training.”
Xiao Qingyan sneered, “Even so, you shouldn’t just give up like this.”
“Should I offer myself up to be slaughtered, then?” Xiao Jingting retorted.
“Enough! At such a time, you don’t know how to stand together, only thinking about saving your own skin,” Xiao Linfeng scolded angrily.
Xiao Jingting awkwardly closed his mouth. As a teenager born and raised in the 21st century under the red flag, Xiao Jingting had always been law-abiding. He hadn’t even killed a mouse. Suddenly hearing that he would have to fight for life and death with a group of people was quite shocking, okay?
“All right, in seven days, you will set off for the Marquis’s Mansion territory. Before that, prepare yourselves well,” Xiao Linfeng said.
“Seven days? Why the hurry?” Xiao Jingting asked.
“The Marquis’s Mansion suddenly issued the decree, probably to catch people off guard,” Xiao Linfeng replied.
Xiao Jingting: “…”
The Marquis’s Mansion is really despicable! Xiao Jingting suddenly remembered that when he was in the Tuoqiu Village, it was people from the Marquis’s Mansion who came to demand fines from him.
“Xiao Ting, you’re quite indulgent with your two sons, aren’t you?” Xiao Qingyan suddenly remarked.
Xiao Jingting: “… Why do you say that, elder brother?”
Xiao Qingyan smiled and said, “You gave eight thousand taels of silver to your son, who is barely as tall as a table, to gamble on stones. If that’s not indulgence, then what is it? Little brother, you have money but don’t know how to respect your parents. Instead, you let your son squander it. What are you thinking?”
Xiao Jingting: “…” What is he thinking? He’s perfectly fine with it.
Xiao Jingting chuckled and replied, “Big brother, you just don’t understand. Gambling on stones is all about luck. If the child has good luck, then actually, last time, buying so many stones also yielded some useful things. In the end, it wasn’t a loss.”
Xiao Qingyan retorted, somewhat annoyed, “Jingting, you really spoil your child. You can even say such nonsense. He spent eight thousand taels!”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
He was indeed lying about that. Regardless, just the value of that spirit bead alone was worth tens of thousands of taels of silver.
“How could I be talking nonsense? Xiao Fan bought expensive ones, and his success rate was high!” Xiao Jingting replied, feeling a bit irritated.
Xiao Linfeng looked at Xiao Jingting and asked, “Jingting, is this really true? Is your son gambling on stones at such a young age?”
Xiao Jingting: … His son is quite savvy! “Xiao Fan doesn’t understand much, but luckily, he’s had good luck and hasn’t suffered any losses.”
Xiao Linfeng looked skeptical and asked, “Really?”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Father, do you think I would lie to you? My money isn’t just picked up from the ground.”
Xiao Linfeng nodded in acknowledgment, saying, “As long as you have a sense of propriety.”
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