Such a grown man, truly meticulous.
Da Ming grinned. There weren't that many rooms at home originally, so this arrangement was perfect; he wouldn't have to sleep on the floor.
Everyone went to Xiao Da Ming's house together. During this time, the villagers learned of Xiao Shan's return and came to see him one after another.
Xiao Shan simply took out money and asked Xiao Da Ming to buy some food in town. He arranged over a dozen tables for a meal with the villagers.
Xiao Da Ming felt as if he were dreaming as he, along with a few villagers, unloaded the goods from the donkey cart one by one.
There were dried fruits and peanuts, plenty of meat, vegetables, rice, and flour. The entire donkey cart full of items didn't even exhaust all the money. The remaining fifty taels were clutched in his embrace. He touched it from time to time, afraid of losing it.
It was more lively than New Year's.
He could tell Xiao Shan was doing well outside, but he never imagined he would casually pull out a hundred taels to treat everyone to a meal. Such generosity was beyond even the wealthy landowners in town.
"Shanzi, I heard some time ago that the Divine Might General of our Jing Kingdom is also named Xiao Shan. I even wondered if it was really you, but then I thought it couldn't be. The Divine Might General didn't have this name before. Tell me, what exactly are you doing outside now? Your demeanor is no less than that of a general."
"How can it compare to a general? I'm just doing some business outside."
As a military officer, Xiao Shan appeared somewhat rough. However, compared to the common folk living at the bottom in the village, even in ordinary clothes, the aura of a superior and his calm composure could not be concealed.
Therefore, Xiao Da Ming had been quite reserved since receiving the money. Hearing these words now reduced his nervousness. He took out the remaining silver to return it to him.
"We should be the ones to welcome you, yet you've spent so much. But I won't be polite with you, since you've been our leader since childhood. Taking care of your brothers is only right, hahaha!"
Xiao Shan pushed it back and patted his shoulder, "No rush. I have something to tell you tomorrow."
Xiao Da Ming wanted to ask more, but Xiao Shan had already turned and walked towards his daughter.
He was truly worried about his little daughter, looking around for her as soon as he couldn't see her.
However, the young lady was indeed too beautiful. Surrounded by a group of women and children, she didn't seem to mind the villagers' rough manners. She was well-behaved and polite.
Xiao Shan's wife must be a lady from a prominent family, right? Why wasn't she brought along this time?
As Xiao Shan approached, the people surrounding Ling Yao automatically parted slightly.
Although he was from this village, after many years, he had grown into a formidable and extraordinary figure, still making women instinctively wary.
"Later, if you get tired, go rest in the house first. I'll be a bit late."
Da Ming's bed was too hard. He had already spread out all the bedding from the cart. Once the villagers arrived, he would inevitably be delayed by pleasantries.
"Got it."
Ling Yao looked up at him, her mouth bulging slightly. It was obvious she had a piece of candy in it.
"Stop eating."
Not long after finishing the roast chicken, she had also eaten some mung bean cakes and scattered dried fruits. Every time he looked, her mouth was chewing and chewing, never stopping.
Xiao Shan wondered if he should find a doctor to examine her, in case she had some illness that affected her appetite.
Ling Yao didn't know what was happening. She was full, but then felt hungry again. Could she really have a problem?
She couldn't eat any more. Her stomach felt increasingly stretched.
As Xiao Shan left, a group of women surrounded her again, bombarding her with questions.
"Girl, your father only has you, a daughter. Didn't he have a son?"
"No, my father said I'm enough."
"Is your mother as beautiful as you?"
"Yes, exactly the same."
Wow, imagining the little girl growing up and her figure developing, she would be incredibly beautiful. Xiao Shan's eldest son was truly blessed.
Later, they stopped prying and chatted in twos and threes while eating fruits.
"If Shanzi had stayed in the village back then, he probably would have married Shuang Hua. His mother liked Shuang Hua's temperament back then – gentle and without temper, a perfect match for the wild Shanzi."
"Shuang Hua has had bad luck, marrying a sickly man, then being driven back after he died, and bringing a son with her. She won't find anyone good now."
Ling Yao looked at Shuang Hua, who was sitting at the edge of the crowd, her gaze fixed on Xiao Shan, who was drinking with someone.
Initially, Shuang Hua calling him "Brother Shanzi" repeatedly made her uncomfortable, but since they grew up together as childhood neighbors, much like how she called Wen Tang "Brother," she didn't mind.
But now, her eyes were almost glued to Xiao Shan.
It felt like her food was being eyed.
She stood up and walked over to block Shuang Hua's view.
"Excuse me, where is the privy? I drank too much water."
"Ah, I'll take you there."
Shuang Hua abruptly withdrew her gaze, her hands nervously twisting together again.
Xiao Da Ming's privy was behind the courtyard. As dusk settled, Ling Yao carefully walked along the uneven dirt path.
"Be careful. Auntie will wait for you outside," Shuang Hua gently instructed.
She was indeed as people said, good-natured. If Xiao Shan married her, he would surely be served comfortably every day without any anger.
Hmph!
Ling Yao covered her nose and cautiously stepped into the dark privy.
Shuang Hua sat down, waiting silently.
People's lives were truly different. This little girl was doted on, getting whatever she wanted. But her son, Huzhi, didn't even have a father, often going hungry and poorly clothed, and constantly worrying about her, his useless mother.
If only she had a father like Brother Shanzi.
When she was young, she envied Yingzi for having such a capable brother, always running around with Yingzi following him.
After her mother passed away, she developed other feelings for Brother Shanzi, who grew more imposing with age.
She wanted to marry a man like Brother Shanzi, so no one would bully her anymore.
Every time she heard Xiao Shan's mother praise her, she was overjoyed. If not for that flood, perhaps they really would have…
Shuang Hua shivered from the cold. She was wearing thin clothes and lived day by day without enough to eat. How could she afford to buy cotton to make new winter clothes?
As it grew completely dark, the sounds of revelry came from the courtyard. Only then did she feel that the little girl had been in the privy for quite some time.
"Xue Niang, are you done?"
A whistling cold wind blew, but there was no answer.
Xue Niang had mysteriously disappeared.
When Xiao Shan heard Shuang Hua tremblingly recount the events, he almost flipped the table.
At that moment, an undeniable pressure emanated from him, stunning all the villagers.
"Perhaps, perhaps she wandered off playing and got lost."
Xiao Da Ming's speech was faltering, shaken by the chilling aura radiating from Xiao Shan.
"Quickly check whose child is missing. Did they go somewhere to play together?" he shouted towards a group of flustered women.
Xiao Shan ignored him, because he knew it wasn't the case. His sinister gaze swept across the surroundings.
He examined the privy. It was built with a few wooden planks, open to the sky, making kidnapping very easy.
Xue Niang had met with trouble, and her soul-capturing technique had not been used.
What did this imply?
Was the person stronger than her, or did they take advantage of her inattention?
Regardless, he knew he couldn't delay.
He took out a signal flare from his embrace. A sharp whistle pierced the night sky, and fireworks exploded above the small village.