Chapter 13: The Whole Village Awaits as Qin Feng Leads the Ascent!

Page 1/3

Zhao Xiulian spoke as she suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud, crying in a pitiful, heart-rending manner. Qin Feng looked at the scene before him, his face devoid of any sympathy.

That old woman was truly shameless, willing to stoop to such lengths to sniff out some benefit.

Did she think that putting on such a pitiful act now would erase all the past grievances she had caused his family?

Dream on!

Qin Feng kept a cold expression and said nothing, quietly watching Zhao Xiulian’s performance.

“It’s all my fault… sob… have mercy on your mother…”

Once she started, she lost all restraint, throwing herself vigorously onto the ground, banging her head repeatedly.

Qin Feng’s mother, after all, was still a woman. Although she had seen through Zhao Xiulian’s hypocrisy, seeing the old woman so pitifully begging stirred some compassion within her.

But she could never bring herself to forgive.

It was only her conscience that made her unable to bear such a sight.

Dong Qiufen was at a loss, silently pleading for help with her eyes toward her son.

Qin Feng, sensing the moment was ripe, waved his hand to comfort his mother, telling her not to worry and that he would handle the matter.

“Zhao Xiulian, even if you kowtow yourself to death in this room today, there’s no chance we’ll reconcile!” Qin Feng stepped forward firmly.

Zhao Xiulian cried out and begged for mercy, originally hoping to soften her daughter-in-law’s heart, but unexpectedly, it was her grandson who spoke first.

“Xiao Feng, you can’t be so cruel…”

“When you were little, grandma often held you! How can you say such harsh things…”

Zhao Xiulian continued her lamentation, kneeling and kowtowing, while her eyes caught sight of the food piled near the stove.

All gifts from the villagers, though not worth much, were coveted in this rural famine year.

Zhao Xiulian had not forgotten her purpose.

She hesitated for a moment but then suppressed her greed and resumed her tearful act.

“If you had come yesterday and begged my mother like this, maybe I would have softened my heart and agreed.”

Qin Feng suddenly changed his tone.

Hearing this, hope flickered in Zhao Xiulian’s heart.

“But that morning, my former second aunt Sun Xiao’e falsely accused me of being a thief.”

“Your mother-in-law comes knocking on your knees at night begging for mercy—what kind of farce is this between you two?”

“Sun Xiao’e accused you of theft?” Zhao Xiulian was stunned by this news, having not yet met Sun Xiao’e today.

“Hmph!” Qin Feng snorted coldly. “You’d better go home and ask her about it first. If you keep causing a scene here—”

“I’ll have my mother call Xi Mei Niang over, and we’ll settle this legal matter properly!” he threatened.

Page 2/3

Hearing the name Zhang Xiumei, Zhao Xiulian’s calves cramped with fear.

That wretched woman, relying on her family’s influence and her position as the village women’s director, was ruthless.

Before, when Dong Qiufen was the daughter-in-law, she hardly dared expose the wickedness of her mother-in-law.

Now that the families had severed ties, if the quarrel escalated again, the one suffering would surely be herself.

“Xiao Feng, don’t be angry…” Zhao Xiulian gritted her teeth and stood up from the ground.

“So it was that gold-digging Sun Xiao’e causing all this trouble!”

“Wait until I go back and find her—I’ll skin her alive!” Zhao Xiulian cursed through clenched teeth.

Afraid that Qin Feng would summon Zhang Xiumei, she hastened her steps homeward, blaming the wretched Sun Xiao’e.

If not for her, today’s act of playing the victim would surely have worked.

By then, not only would she have secured a spot to work on the mountain,

But thanks to Qin Feng’s connections, she could reap benefits just by staying home and collecting gifts.

The more Zhao Xiulian thought about it, the angrier she became, and she hurried inside after leaving Qin Feng’s house.

—

Many villagers wanted to go up the mountain; nearly all able-bodied laborers at home had signed up.

However, after discussing with the village chief, Qin Feng decided not to select so many for the first group.

After all, two men working on the mountain was different from a large group.

They had to consider the division of labor and work efficiency.

After repeatedly checking the list, Qin Feng finally confirmed fifteen people to go up the mountain.

Zhao Fanyong, whom Zhang Xiumei had asked Qin Feng to include, was definitely on the list, along with Liuzi and about a dozen other men.

All were the most capable laborers in the village. Qin Feng also deliberately selected a few women.

It didn’t matter if they couldn’t chop trees; they could certainly gather pine nuts.

Most importantly, letting everyone benefit by earning money together, especially the women, would boost the villagers’ enthusiasm.

The men received notice and sharpened their axes in advance, each gleaming with cold steel.

More than ten people gathered in the village committee courtyard, while many who were not selected watched from the sidelines.

“You have all been carefully chosen as our village’s best comrades,” Zhao Xicheng cleared his throat and spoke from a raised platform.

“This time, when you go up the mountain with Qin Feng, work hard and follow orders!”

“The pine nuts you bring back, half will be handed over to the village, and the other half—”

“I will have Qin Feng distribute according to each of your labor contributions and production status!”

“Swish, swish, swish!”

Page 3/3

All eyes immediately focused on Qin Feng’s face.

“Uncles and aunts, don’t worry. Barring any accidents, this mountain trip will be a great harvest!”

“I guarantee each of you will receive at least five yuan!” Qin Feng smiled, encouraging everyone.

The crowd erupted in excitement!

Five yuan! That could almost buy ten jin of pork!

Those selected were all delighted in their hearts, while those not chosen wore envious and burning expressions.

A group of men, axes slung over their shoulders and bags already prepared, set off in a grand procession.

Qin Feng led at the front, Liuzi beside him, and Zhao Fanyong, with his injured hand, close behind.

“Uncle Fanyong, when we get there, you don’t have to chop trees,” Qin Feng instructed the silent man beside him.

Zhao Fanyong lowered his head. This time, he was the only one singled out by the villagers.

Because those with intact limbs were not selected, yet this man with a disabled hand was on the list.

Many villagers were upset.

It was only because Qin Feng explained that Zhao Fanyong was useful, and no one wanted to offend Qin Feng, that the complaints ceased.

“Stick with me, watch and listen carefully. Once you’ve learned, no one will dare complain!”

“All right!” Zhao Fanyong brightened at these words.

Previously, the villagers had only heard that Qin Feng had brought back pine nuts from the mountain but knew nothing of how he did it.

Only the village’s glowing letter of commendation silenced their doubts.

Deep down, however, many still harbored some skepticism about Qin Feng’s abilities.

In the forest, Qin Feng, as before, tapped branches against the pine trees.

The crowd was puzzled but silently watched, trying to understand the reason.

“Chop!” Qin Feng selected a tree and called Liuzi and the villagers to work.

With axes in hand, three or four men quickly surrounded it.

Everyone took their positions, swung their arms, and in no time, the great tree toppled.

Liuzi then extracted golden pine nuts from the hollow trunk.

The onlookers gasped in astonishment: “Real pine nuts!!”