Thriving Day by Day

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Nine-year-old Xu Mingwei had shot up in height, reaching nearly 1.4 meters. He looked like a half-grown young man now.

He had also mastered the breathing method and twelve forms of the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique, and could practice on his own.

His greatest changes were undoubtedly his strength and his eyes.

The [Innate Divine Strength] Destiny Talent was no empty claim. By now, many adults were no match for him.

His pair of eyes had also grown increasingly sharp and profound.

Boys his age felt a little intimidated whenever they saw him.

Not to mention them—even adults felt apprehensive when they encountered him with a dark expression.

His gaze felt as sharp as knives, stabbing straight into their hearts.

Still, Xu Mingwei kept his edge sheathed most of the time.

Like Xu Chuan, he was steady and low-key.

March.

After the spring rain.

The rain-washed earth gleamed with a dark brown sheen, while wild shepherd's purse along the field ridges held up tender leaves crowned with droplets.

Egrets skimmed over paddy fields brimming with spring water, their pointed beaks suddenly spearing the surface to snatch up silver crucian carp.

Field mice crawled out of damp haystacks to steal bites of newly sprouted pea shoots, only to be chased by the old yellow dog guarding the water, splashing up strings of mud.

As far as the eye could see, Common Folk in bamboo hats bent over to replant rice seedlings. Their bare feet made "glurp" sounds as they stepped into the mud.

Xu Chuan busied himself in the paddy field, while Xu Mingwei planted seedlings at his side.

Xu Mingyuan came over carrying a large teapot and two lidded cups.

"Father, Big Brother, Mother asked me to bring you some cool tea."

Xu Chuan looked up, saw Xu Mingyuan, and smiled faintly. Then he turned to Xu Mingwei, who was diligently planting seedlings. "Shitou, come up and rest for a while."

"Father, I'm not tired. I'll finish this row soon. I'll rest after I'm done here."

"As you wish."

Xu Chuan chuckled and went up onto the bank.

He accepted the tea Xu Mingyuan poured for him and gulped down a large mouthful.

Xu Mingyuan looked at Xu Mingwei and said with feeling, "Big Brother is really serious."

"Unlike you, little monkey—you can never settle down." Xu Chuan laughed as he chided him.

Xu Mingyuan stuck out his tongue and grinned.

"I'll go help Big Brother too."

As he spoke, he took off his green hemp-cloth shoes, rolled his trousers up to his knees, and stepped into the paddy field. Walking toward Xu Mingwei, he called, "Brother, I'm coming to help."

Xu Mingwei looked up at him and smiled faintly. "Then thank you, A Yuan."

"Walk slowly. Don't fall."

Seeing his sons respect and care for one another, Xu Chuan felt deeply gratified.

His eldest son was calm and steady, towering like a great mountain—enough to carry on the family.

His second son was lively and unruly, but quick-witted, intelligent, and adaptable.

As for his youngest son, he was three years old now. He could walk and run, and was cheerful and lively.

Xu Chuan had cultivated the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique for three years. Now, whenever he practiced, he felt a current of heat flowing through his entire body.

This was Internal Force.

However, to become a Third-rate Martial Artist, one had to open at least thirty-six Acupoints.

He had only opened a little over thirty Acupoints thus far.

According to the Inner Strength Manual.

If one opened all 365 Acupoints throughout the body, one would reach the Houtian Peak. Internal Force would flow through the acupoints of the heavenly circuit, endless and unceasing.

A First-class Martial Artist needed to open three hundred Acupoints, while a Second-rate Martial Artist needed to open one hundred and eight.

Although Xu Mingwei had progressed a little slowly, he had also opened twenty Acupoints.

His advantage lay in his youth. Opening Acupoints was easier for him, and surpassing Xu Chuan in the future would be no difficult matter.

With Xu Mingyuan joining in, they finished planting the seedlings that morning. The father and two sons returned home cheerfully.

Before they even reached the entrance, waves of fragrance rushed toward them.

"Chicken soup, and braised carp too."

He had only muttered a couple of words when Xu Mingyuan's stomach began to rumble.

Under the eaves.

Seeing his father and brothers return, Xu Mingxuan called out in his childish voice, "Mother, Father and my brothers are back."

After speaking, he ran toward Xu Chuan, calling, "Father, Father!"

"Tantou, you only know how to call for Father. What about us?"

Xu Mingyuan rubbed Xu Mingxuan's head and narrowed his eyes.

"Second Brother, you always steal my things, so I won't call you."

He turned his head away, then smiled at Xu Mingwei and called, "Big Brother."

"Hey, I refuse to believe I can't deal with you!"

Xu Mingyuan grabbed Xu Mingxuan into his arms and frantically tickled him.

Xu Mingxuan giggled without stopping. Only after he begged for mercy did Xu Mingyuan let him go.

"Enough. Go wash up. It's time to eat."

Xu Chuan went into the kitchen to take a look at Bai Jing and saw that she was busy.

When Bai Jing saw him, she smiled faintly. "Husband, go eat. My last dish will be ready soon."

"I could smell the fragrance from far away. You've worked hard, Wife. Being able to marry you is my blessing."

"Smooth talker!"

Bai Jing laughed as she scolded him, but she clearly enjoyed it, her face blooming like a flower.

That night.

"Husband, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" Xu Chuan sat composedly, thinking about Xu Mingyuan's future path.

He was seven years old now. The time had come.

But as for the specifics, Xu Chuan planned to ask Xu Mingyuan first before considering it carefully.

Bai Jing took his large hand and placed it on her stomach.

Xu Chuan froze for a moment, then turned to look at her and blinked.

"Are you pregnant again?"

Having children was hard, and Xu Chuan understood that. He had not originally wanted to have any more.

"We aren't?"

Bai Jing shot him a coy glare. "Isn't it all because of you, Husband?"

"Once we've done it, it can't be completely prevented. Even if it's outside, there can still be an accident. Don't you want it?"

"Of course I do!" Xu Chuan hurriedly said, then raised his arm and pulled her into his embrace.

"Since it has come to my Xu Family, then it is fate. Of course we'll keep it. Even if we have seven or eight more, our family can afford to raise them now."

Two years ago, Xu Chuan had bought another twenty mu of farmland and forty mu of woodland.

This farmland was not paddy field, and generally cost more than ten taels per mu.

Woodland was even cheaper, only seven or eight taels per mu. However, one had to chop down the trees and clear the land before fruit trees could be planted.

He had planted several kinds of fruit across this farmland and woodland: strawberries and loquats in spring, watermelons, lychees, and peaches in summer, persimmons and pomelos in autumn, and sugarcane and winter jujubes in winter.

Fruit that grew on trees might need another two years before bearing fruit.

But watermelons, strawberries, sugarcane, and the like yielded plenty every year under Xu Chuan's careful cultivation.

These fruits alone brought in several hundred taels a year.

The main reason was that Xu Chuan cultivated them well. His produce was better than what ordinary households grew, so everyone bought fruit from the Xu Family first.

Only afterward did they buy from other families.

Now, the Xu Family had sixty mu of paddy fields, twenty mu of farmland, and forty mu of woodland.

They absolutely counted as a modestly wealthy household in Dongxi Village, with ample food and clothing.

A few days later.

Chen Ergou's Home.

Xu Yan returned from inspecting the woodland and saw Er Gou lying idly in a recliner, looking utterly carefree. Anger immediately surged within her.

She grabbed the broom behind the door and swung it at him.

"Damn!"

Chen Ergou sprang up from the recliner and bolted without looking back. From those movements, he was clearly well-practiced.

"Xu Yan, what are you doing?!"

"If you have something to say, say it properly. Don't start throwing your hands around."

"Don't think I can't beat you. A good man doesn't fight with a woman!"

"Heh. If you were as capable as Xu Chuan, I'd obey your every word and let you decide everything."

"Poor Xu Yan was blind enough to set her sights on an unruly good-for-nothing like you. You've accomplished nothing in martial arts, nothing in learning, and you're useless at farming too. What can you even do?"

"Sit around and eat until the mountain is gone?"

For a while, chickens flew and dogs leapt.

Their son and daughter returned from School. Seeing this scene, they were already used to it and headed straight for the Xu Family home.

"Daniu, Fangfang, it's nearly noon. Why have you come over?"

In the courtyard.

Xu Mingwei stopped what he was doing and looked over.

Xu Mingyuan came out upon hearing the voices. Seeing them, he could not help but chuckle. "Uncle Ergou and Auntie are fighting again?"

Daniu sighed softly. "My old father really can't compare to Uncle Chuan. Mother is chasing him around with a broom again."

"What was it over this time? Is Auntie still dissatisfied with Uncle Ergou's idleness?"

Chen Fangfang said in surprise, "A Yuan, you're so smart. You guessed it right away."

"Mother is always comparing Father to Uncle Chuan."

"My father is the most capable man in Dongxi Village. How can Uncle Ergou's lazy nature compare?" Xu Mingyuan admired Xu Chuan beyond measure, as though he were a god.

"Daniu, tell me about it. Perhaps I can give you some ideas."

Daniu repeated everything Chen Ergou and Xu Yan had said.

Xu Mingyuan pondered for a moment, then said, "I heard Father say that Green Jade Pears aren't so easy to grow. Auntie is aiming too high and clinging to a fluke; sooner or later, she'll suffer for it."

"These past three years, your family must have invested quite a bit in Green Jade Pears. Seeing that all the capital is about to be lost, her temper has become as changeable as the weather, causing discord between husband and wife."

"I think you should persuade Auntie to give up growing Green Jade Pears."

"If we don't grow those, then what should our family grow?" Daniu asked curiously.

Xu Mingwei listened quietly as well, wanting to know what good idea his younger brother could come up with.

"Grow ordinary fruits and melons along with my family. For one thing, your family won't lack any to eat; for another, you can sell them for money."