From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 25 Hunger Strike
It was hot at noon.

Chen Bajin originally planned to take a nap, but when he thought of his disobedient daughter, he felt depressed and couldn't sleep. He simply went out to play chess with his old friend to relieve his boredom.

When I reached the alley entrance, I saw a few old men and women enjoying the cool air and chatting under a big tree.

He happened to be free, so he went over to chat, and then heard about what happened at the Xu family last night.

"Is the third son of the Xu family so powerful?"

Chen Bajin had only heard of Xu Xiaogou practicing martial arts, but had no idea that he was so skilled.

"Very impressive. My son said that among the young people, San Gou is the most impressive. He's also quite popular and has many friends. In ten years or so, he'll definitely be the most famous person in the village."

"Xu Fugui had such a gambling father, but he was able to turn his life around thanks to his son. He's really lucky."

"He married a good wife and had five children, four of whom were sons. Let's go back and ask what he eats and if he has any tips for having sons."

"..."

Chen Bajin came out to relieve his boredom, but when he heard others talking about this topic, he felt very uncomfortable and turned around and went home.

His biggest regret in life is that he has no son, and his second regret is that he is ugly.

"I wish I had a son like Xu Sangou."

This was his beautiful fantasy.

When he opened the gate and returned home, he saw his wife carrying a bowl of rice out of Chen Xiulian's bedroom: "Why, she still doesn't want to eat?"

Xiulian's mother shook her head and sighed: "She didn't move a single word. Sigh, why is this child so stubborn?"

Some time ago, Chen Bajin locked his daughter at home and kept her under strict watch, not allowing her to go out to find Xu Xiaoniu.

Starting yesterday, Chen Xiulian suddenly announced that she would go on a hunger strike, refusing to eat or drink.

Chen Bajin thought his daughter was just throwing a tantrum, but she didn't expect her to be serious.

"If you don't want to eat, then don't eat. Just starve to death and I'll pretend I don't have this daughter!"

He was so angry that he shouted towards Chen Xiulian's bedroom.

"Old man, just keep your voice down."

"..."

Chen Bajin suddenly came up with a plan and said loudly, "I just heard outside that something happened to the Xu family."

"Something happened to the Xu family?"

Xiulian's mother was surprised.

"Yes, the Xu family almost suffered a disaster. Let me tell you..."

Chen Bajin whispered this to his wife and then said, "I'm going to go out for a while. Please coax Xiulian to eat something."

As soon as he left, Chen Xiulian, pale with hunger, walked out of the bedroom and asked, "Mom, what happened to the Xu family?"

"First, drink some water and eat something. I'll tell you everything slowly. When your father comes back, I'll tell you that you didn't eat a single bite."

"Okay...okay."

Chen Xiulian drank some water, ate half a bowl of rice, and then listened to her mother talk about what happened in the Xu family.

When she learned that the Xu family was fine, she felt relieved.

----

The Liu family mansion.

Liu Yaozong's third son Liu Hongtu returned home.

He had been having fun in the county town a few days ago, and only came home when he got tired of it. At seventeen, with no shortage of money at home and no marriage, it was the perfect time for him to have some free time.

Apart from practicing martial arts, he usually spends his time eating, drinking, having fun, walking the dog and chasing rabbits with his friends.

As soon as he got home this time, he saw a beautiful woman who caught his eye.

Su Jinshu was wearing a light blue summer dress with a thin sheer veil. She had her hair tied up and wore light makeup.

"Girl, who are you?"

Liu Hongtu was puzzled. How come a strange girl appeared in his house when he had not been home for a few days?
Could it be that this is the fiancée his father found for him?

"My name is Su Jinshu, and I'm from Lanting County, Yunbian Commandery... What about you?"

Su Jinshu briefly introduced herself and asked. In fact, she saw that the man had some similarities with Liu Yaozong and guessed his identity.

"I'm Liu Hongtu."

When Liu Hongtu learned about the other party's background, he became even more convinced that this was the fiancée his father had chosen for him.

Otherwise, why would his father let an unrelated stranger stay at his home?
"So it's the third son of the Liu family. Su Jinshu is honored."

Su Jinshu said this, nodded, bent his legs and saluted politely.

The more Liu Hongtu looked, the more satisfied he felt. He liked the woman in front of him both in appearance and temperament, and her background was also suitable for him.

"Where's my father?"

As he was asking this, Liu Yaozong walked in from the outer courtyard: "Hongtu is back? You and Miss Su have already met each other, right? This Miss Su and I are really destined to be together, so I let her stay."

After saying that, Liu Yaozong looked at Su Jinshu and said, "I just sent someone to the county town to buy a zither. You'll be able to play it in a couple of days." "Thank you, Master Liu."

Ok?
Liu Hongtu felt something was wrong when he saw the situation between his father and Su Jinshu.

The look in her eyes doesn't seem like that of a fiancée introduced to him, but rather like that of a stepmother his father found for him.

This……

He felt complicated and mixed emotions for a moment.

However, he never interfered in his father's life. If his father was willing, he could only bless him.

----

The Xu family's medicinal herb fields are bustling with activity.

In addition to eight acres of withered leaf ash, Xu Fugui decided to sell six acres of iron root grass as well.

The medicinal part of the iron root grass is the underground roots, which most people cannot see. In fact, the iron root grass in his family has been planted for eight years and has certain value.

The people brought by the merchants who collected medicinal herbs were working in the fields, picking one plant after another of the withered leaf blackthorn and iron root grass.

Xu Fugui brought Da Niu, San Gou and Siyun to supervise the work nearby.

Because the medicinal materials are expensive, they have to keep an eye on them and guard against those who work on them hoarding them, or against merchants deliberately counting the wrong amount.

This is very necessary. There is no business without fraud, and merchants who purchase goods in order to get a small discount often do this.

After a busy day, a total of fourteen acres of medicinal herbs were picked and filled several carriages.

The purchasing merchants began to count and settle the accounts.

Because of the war in Yunbian County, the prices of most medicinal herbs have increased, including withered blackleaf and iron root grass.

"A perfectly good-looking black-leaved shrike, 550 wen each. 35 bundles in total, 80 each, that's..."

The accountant beside him turned the abacus and said, "2600 trees is 1430 taels."

"wrong!"

The young man's clear voice rang out. It was Xu Xiaoyun: "35 bundles, 80 plants per bundle, that's 2800 plants, a total of 1540 taels."

The fortuneteller quickly recalculated and said, "Right, right, I made a mistake just now."

They knew clearly whether it was a mistake or intentional.

The Xu family and the others who reacted looked unhappy, especially Xu Xiaogou: "Calculate carefully again, or you'll get it wrong again or your head will explode."

"Yes Yes……"

Sweat broke out on the fortune teller's forehead.

Xu Fugui thought to himself that merchants just loved to bully honest farmers who couldn't do their accounting. Then he looked at Xu Xiaoyun in surprise. He hadn't even realized it yet, but his son Xu Xiaoyun had figured it out.

"A slightly inferior quality blackleaf ash, 400 wen per plant, 8 bundles in total, 80 plants per bundle, that's..."

After what had just happened, the fortuneteller no longer dared to make a mistake and gave the correct number: "640 trees, 256 taels of silver."

"And there's ironroot grass, 180 wen each, 42 bundles in total, 30 stalks per bundle, 1260 stalks in total, 226 taels and 800 wen, adding up to 227 taels."

The price of six acres of iron root grass is far less than that of 15-year-old withered leaf black grass.

"A total of 2023 taels."

Xu Xiaoyun blurted out.

At the same time, the fortuneteller also calculated the result and nodded, "Yes."

After confirming that everything was correct, the merchant gave Xu Fugui a silver note for 1,000 taels of silver, two silver notes for 500 taels of silver, and another 23 taels of silver.

The transaction was successful and everyone was happy.

After the merchant's convoy left, everyone in the Xu family returned home, all with smiles on their faces.

"Dad, our family is rich now. We have two thousand taels of silver!"

"Dad, can you show me the banknote? I haven't seen it before."

"..."

Facing the children's excitement, Xu Fugui was also excited, but he controlled his emotions: "Calm down, this is just a small amount of silver. Only by being frugal can you keep your money, otherwise no matter how much silver you have, it will be squandered.

Do you know your grandfather? Our Xu family used to be landlords, but your grandfather squandered everything.

"I know, I know. Dad, you've told me this countless times."

"It's good to know."

Xu Fugui let the children "appreciate" the silver note worth one thousand taels of silver, and then took it back to his bedroom and hid it.

Although this amount of money was large, it was earned from fourteen mu of medicinal herbs. Especially the eight mu of Kuyewu, which had been planted for sixteen years, was older than Xu Xiaogou himself.

The Xu family will have many other places to spend money in the future. For example, Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou are both of marriageable age, and getting married is a considerable expense.

The Xu family's old house has been there for many years, and Xu Fugui plans to renovate it and add some furniture.

(End of this chapter)