Poisonous Peasant ‘Concubine’

Chapter 52

Chapter 052 Everything Is For The Children

After leaving Yan Shirui, Ling Jingxuan realized how remote his family's house was. Zhao Dalong's house wasn't much better, and it seemed that the villagers pushed away anyone they disliked to the outskirts. They probably believed that if they couldn't see them, they didn't exist. Ling Jingxuan felt speechless about this situation. If it weren't for the relatively good location of their house, not too far from Datong Town, and the convenient transportation by water and land, he would have considered moving. Who knew what would happen if he lived together with a whole village of troublemakers? He probably wouldn't have any privacy, not even when whispering to his wife.

However, it was all a joke. Compared to Ling Jingxuan's dilapidated thatched-roof house, Zhao Dalong's house was much better. Although the walls were made of mud, the roof was covered with small tiles, so they didn't have to worry about leaks. The main house was flanked by small kitchens and pigsties on both sides, and they had a spacious courtyard. Overall, it was a relatively decent rural dwelling.

"Jingxuan, how come you're here? What a rare guest! Come, come, come, sit inside."

Upon seeing Ling Jingxuan at the door, Han Fei enthusiastically pulled him inside. They passed through the spacious and tidy courtyard and went straight to the main hall. Zhao Dalong, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and covered in sweat, was resting in the room. It seemed he had just finished some work. Iron Wazi obediently sat on a small stool beside him, picking beans. Although this family was poor and ostracized by the villagers, they lived a leisurely and carefree life.

"Brother Zhao, is Tie Wazi helping Brother Han with his work? He's quite capable."

After exchanging greetings with Zhao Dalong, Ling Jingxuan walked over to pat Tie Wazi's head. He had no resistance when it came to children, especially cute and well-behaved ones like Tie Wazi.

"Uncle, why didn't Ling Wen and Ling Wu come?"

Maybe they had gotten used to each other. 'Tie Wazi' was no longer shy and withdrawn as before. His eyes kept darting past the other man's body, and after a while, he pouted disappointedly and sat back down. He was the only friend of Ling Wen and Ling Wu, and they were also his only friends. They were all lonely children.

"Hehe... We're going to raise piglets at home, and Xiao Wu is going to the market with his uncle. Xiao Wen is staying home to practice writing and watch over the house. Would you like to join us later with your uncle and play with them in the afternoon?"

Seeing that his little pursed mouth could hang a chamber pot, Ling Jingxuan couldn't help but smile. It reminded him of his own little bun. Isn't Ling Wu always like this?

"Sure, Uncle, I want to practice writing with Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu. Xiao Wen even taught me how to write the character '人' (ren, meaning 'person'), and I've already learned it!"

Upon hearing that he could go to their house to play, Tie Wazi's face immediately lit up, and he excitedly bragged to Ling Jingxuan. On the side, Han Fei couldn't help but laugh and said, "This child is really cute. Ling Shu, you're busy, don't let him disturb you."

To Han Fei, it seemed like Ling Jingxuan was always catching so many fish that he must be really busy.

"It's alright. I'm not too busy these days. By the way, Zhao Ge, Han Ge, have you thought about sending Tie Wazi to a private school?"

Seeing that Tie Wazi might be disappointed again, Ling Jingxuan quickly picked him up and looked at Zhao and Han. He had a purpose in coming here today.

"Ah? We haven't thought about it. But there's only one private school near our village, which is run by Ling Lao Ye. Last time, I went to Ling Zheng Jia with Zhao Ge to ask him to let Tie Wazi go to the private school. I'm not asking for him to excel, but at least I hope he won't be illiterate and embarrassed like us. However, Ling Zheng Jia rejected us right away. Later, we quietly approached Ling Lao Ye, and he suggested that we take Tie Wazi to take an exam. But you know, this child is shy in front of strangers, and he doesn't know anything they ask. In the end, we had to bring him back home."

As he spoke, Han Fei let out a deep sigh. The same expression appeared on Zhao Dalong's face. The child's mother died when Tie Wazi was just under two years old. Han Fei had married into this family, and he had taken care of the child ever since. In his heart, he treated Tie Wazi as his own son. The thought of the child's future turning out like his made him feel a stabbing pain.

"Hmph, let's call it what it is, it's a mere formality. They're intentionally trying to embarrass you," Ling Jingxuan remarked with a disdainful snort. Knowing Mr. Ling's strict adherence to family tradition, it was no surprise that he would act in such a manner.

"Exactly! What's the point of subjecting a child who's never been educated? It's..." Han Fei began, only to be interrupted by Zhao Dalong's reprimand in a hushed tone.

“Little Fei!"

Zhao Dalong interjected, his voice low but firm. Yet Han Fei persisted, his emotions raw as he recounted Tie Wazi's hardships, having lost his mother early and being practically raised by him from a tender age. To Han Fei, Tie Wazi was his own son, and the thought of his future weighed heavily on his heart.

Touched by Han Fei's raw emotion, Zhao Dalong's stern expression softened, and though he remained silent, his concern was evident. Ling Jingxuan observed the exchange, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Sensing the need to lighten the mood, he gently nudged Tie Wazi into Han Fei's arms. The child, ever perceptive, understood the unspoken sentiment and quickly sought comfort in Han Fei's embrace.

"Daddy, don't cry. Tie Wazi will make you feel better..." Tie Wazi cooed, wrapping his small arms around Han Fei's neck and blowing gentle puffs of air on his face.

The sight melted Han Fei's heart, and despite his earlier distress, he couldn't help but chuckle. Ling Jingxuan joined in, his smile brightening the atmosphere, and even Zhao Dalong's demeanor softened. In that moment, the tension dissipated, and the three adults returned to their initial state of relaxation.

Seizing the opportunity, Ling Jingxuan gently touched Tie Wazi's head and addressed Zhao Dalong and Han Fei, "Zhao Ge, Han Ge, I've been considering sending Xiaowen and Xiaowu to a private school, but not Mr. Ling's. I've saved some money and plan to send them to a school in town. It's quite a distance, so I'm thinking of purchasing a carriage. As parents, it's our responsibility to ensure our children receive a good education, even if it means some extra effort on our part. Tomorrow, I'd like to invite you both to accompany me to buy the carriage. And if you're considering sending Tie Wazi to the town's school as well, perhaps the three children could study together, providing companionship for each other. What do you think?"

After laying the groundwork, Ling Jingxuan finally revealed his true intention. In fact, he wasn't unfamiliar with selecting horses, as he had experience in various fields as a killer in his previous life. However, besides the arts of killing, saving lives, and disguising himself, he wasn't particularly skilled in other areas. Moreover, he needed to buy not only a horse carriage but also oxen and sheep. He was capable of choosing horses, but when it came to oxen and sheep, he was helpless. Although he had been a farmer in the countryside in the 21st century and had his own estate, the farmland back then was different from now. He didn't need oxen and sheep as modern technology could handle most of the farming work. So he thought about it and concluded that Zhao and Han were the only ones who could help him.

"Buying a horse carriage is expensive. How about I use a bullock cart to send them every day?"

Upon hearing this, Han Fei furrowed his brows with concern. Although it wouldn't cost him anything since it was Ling Jingxuan's money, he couldn't help but feel distressed at the thought of spending dozens of taels on it.

"Can anything be more expensive than our children's future? Han Ge, others may think differently, but when it comes to my children, even if I have to give up everything, I'm willing to do it."

His smile faded, and Ling Jingxuan said seriously, "Money can be earned again, but if their lives are ruined, no amount of money can buy them back."

His words struck a chord with Zhao Da Long and Han Fei. They were dumbfounded for a while and couldn't snap out of it. They realized that they were connected by the same fate. When Ling Jingxuan finished, they were left feeling as if their good days had just begun. When they eventually rose to a higher position, they would realize that Ling Jingxuan was not just their friend, but their lucky star.

"Okay, tomorrow we will accompany you to the town, Jingxuan. However, in our small town, if we want to purchase a carriage, we must approach the guarantor. Last year, when we bought the ox cart, we relied on Liu Baoren from the town. He's the largest guarantor in Qingyang County, known for his impeccable reputation in livestock, land, and people transactions."

Han Fei, having made his decision, didn't hold back and shared his thoughts openly. Ling Jingxuan raised an eyebrow at this revelation. Was Han Fei acting as an intermediary, much like in modern society? It seemed even ancient times had their own trends. Well, having an intermediary might be the safest option despite the commission. Ling Jingxuan couldn't help but ponder about land purchase. Perhaps it was time to plan ahead.

"Alright, Zhao Ge, Han Ge, I'll rely on you tomorrow," Ling Jingxuan said after a moment of contemplation. He needed to return and consider the land purchase matter. As he glanced at Ling Wen's pleading expression, he couldn't help but relent. Ling Jingxuan sighed inwardly, realizing he had to agree with his little brother.

"What's the discussion? Just be courteous, and my Tie Wazi will gladly accompany you to town for studies in the future," Zhao Dalong chimed in.

Han Fei, straightforward as ever, found solace in speaking his mind without any pretense. Ling Jingxuan couldn't help but smile in agreement. "Indeed, no need for formalities. We're bound by fate and should support each other."

The trio exchanged smiles, feeling a strong connection forged by shared experiences. Little did Zhao Dalong and Han Fei know, their fortunes were about to change for the better. Ling Jingxuan, however, stood apart as their fortunate star, a beacon guiding them to unexpected prosperity.

"One more thing, Zhao Ge, Han Ge," Ling Jingxuan interjected, "I understand that you both don't have much land to tend to, so I won't keep you busy with farming. Today, I took over a significant order from Xinyuan Restaurant in town, and I need to deliver it within ten days. It involves producing one thousand catties of jam, which I've made myself. I was wondering if you'd be available to help me pick wild fruits on the mountain. Don't worry about the payment; I'll ensure you're fairly compensated."

Originally, he planned to offer them a certain amount per catty of fruit picked, but upon further reflection, he realized that Zhao Dalong and Han Fei were more than just acquaintances—they were potential lifelong friends. With this in mind, he dismissed the idea of fixed payment.

"That's a fair deal. If we're not allowed to pay you, then you're not allowed to pay us either, right? Just let us know when you need the help, and we'll come running," Han Fei chimed in with a genuine smile. He was genuinely happy for Ling Jingxuan and didn't mind lending a hand without expecting anything in return.

"Hehe... sounds good. Let's leave it at that then. Jing Peng and the others should be back soon, so I'll take my leave now," Ling Jingxuan replied, opting not to press the issue of payment any further. He trusted that they would reciprocate when the time came.

"Uncle, I want to go too!" Tie Wazi piped up, suddenly sitting up in Han Fei's arms, his small hands clinging to Han Fei's clothes. The sight brought smiles to the faces of the adults, and Ling Jingxuan bent down to pick up the eager child. "Alright, you can come with me. From now on, you can think of me as your uncle."

"Whee!" Tie Wazi exclaimed with joy.

With a chuckle, Han Fei shook his head in amusement. Seeing them off to the door, he reminded Ling Jingxuan about Tie Wazi's clothing before bidding them farewell.

"Brother Han, go ahead. Let Tie Wazi have a nap with me at noon, and I'll have Xiaowen take him back in the afternoon," Ling Jingxuan suggested as they walked away.

"Why?" Han Fei asked, puzzled.

With a smile on his face, Ling Jingxuan walked home with Tie Wazi in his arms, the little boy peppering him with curious questions along the way. Ling Jingxuan patiently answered each one, feeling their bond growing stronger with every step. Compared to the bickering siblings at home, Tie Wazi's innocence and genuine curiosity made him feel like a true child, reminding Ling Jingxuan of the joy and wonder of childhood.