Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 31 The Shameless Family

"Xuxu, look, these are the strong laborers from our village, a total of fifty-six men. I think they are all capable, so I kept them," the village chief said while showing Xuxu the list of male villagers who had signed up for reclaiming wasteland.

"Uncle Village Chief, I trust you. We’ll start clearing the land for farming tomorrow, and I was hoping Uncle Village Chief could come over to support me," Xuxu said half-jokingly, half-pleading as she looked at the village chief.

"Alright, this little matter, I’ll be there early tomorrow morning. I will make sure it’s done for you. It’s just a pity that not many families in the village signed up to cultivate the new rice variety," the village chief sighed with regret.

"Uncle Village Chief, don’t worry, there are still a few families who did, right? When the rice matures, and the villagers see how much we harvest, they will follow suit next year." Originally meant to comfort Xuxu, the village chief found himself being reassured by her instead. They looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Xuxu, you’re right; we’ll let the facts speak for themselves," he chuckled.

"Uncle Village Chief, how many families have signed up to grow the new rice variety so far?" Xuxu asked, thinking about how much seed they would need to cultivate.

"Your uncles, Feng Da, Feng Fang, Feng Gang, Feng Jian, Feng Yong, Feng Guang, Feng Li, and Feng Xiang all signed up. There are also a few others in the village, like Feng Cong, Feng Xiquan, and Feng Sheng’s families, and then there’s my family," the village chief explained in detail.

"Feng Xi, Xuxu, you two little rascals, come out for your old man!" Feng Youcai, seething with anger, kicked open the courtyard door and started shouting as soon as he entered the yard.

Zhang Hui was chatting with the village chief when the shouting startled him, almost causing him to throw his teacup.

"Who could that be, so late at night? Village chief, please have a seat, I’ll go check," said Zhang Hui, putting down his teacup, lighting a lantern, and heading into the courtyard to see who was there.

"Maybe I should come with you to take a look; that voice sounds like Feng Youcai," the village chief said, not feeling reassured, and decided to follow Zhang Hui outside.

"Feng Xi, Xuxu, you two ungrateful animals, get out here right now! What, are you hiding like cowardly turtles? If you don’t come out, believe me, I’ll rip off your roof!"

"Uncle Feng, who do you think you’re going to unroof here? Let me tell you, this isn’t your house, unroof it if you dare! Who do you think you are, the emperor?" Zhang Hui, on hearing someone wanted to dismantle his roof, became really upset and retorted angrily at Feng Youcai. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"You, an outsider, what’s any of the Feng Family’s business to you? Scram to the side! I’m here for Feng Xi and Xuxu. Where have you hidden them? Bring them out quickly, or I won’t leave you alone," Feng Youcai, unable to step down after being confronted, retorted irritably at Zhang Hui, feeling empowered as a local with his sons and nephews to back him up, paying no mind to Zhang Hui.

"Zhang Hui, it’s none of your business, stop meddling. Call out Feng Xi and Xuxu, or we will start looking for them ourselves," Santian stood behind Feng Youcai, pursing his lips in dissatisfaction.

Seeing a crowd gathering outside the gate, the village chief suspected that Feng Youcai, knowing about Feng Xi and Xuxu buying land and clearing it for farming, must be envious and probably wanted a share. But the situation did not seem quite right; perhaps he was looking to monopolize. The village chief squinted, concealing the disdain in his eyes, and approached Zhang Hui with an amiable laugh.

"Aunt Hui, please let me go out. I promise they won’t hit me; I’m quite agile, really," Xuxu pleaded with Aunt Hui, repeatedly assuring her of her safety.

"No way, little sister, I’ll go. You stay here. I’ve got thick skin, it won’t hurt much if I take a hit," Feng Xi firmly disagreed with Xuxu going outside. Seeing that almost the entire old house was involved, he was even more worried for her.

"Right, listen to your brother. Stay inside, and don’t you dare go out," "Feng Xi, you go. We’ve got this, Jiaojiao and I will make sure she doesn’t run off," Aunt Hui turned to Feng Xi and said.

Feng Xi glanced at Xuxu, then at Aunt Hui, and without saying anything, turned and went outside.

"Uncle Youcai, what’s all this about? Bringing so many people in the middle of the night, is there a problem?" the village chief knowingly asked Feng Youcai.

"Oh, the village chief is also here," Feng Youcai noticed the village chief standing behind Zhang Hui, and greeted him with an awkward smile on his face.

"Hmm, I’ve been here for a while now. What’s all this...?" the village chief returned the greeting with a smile and repeated his earlier question.

"Ah, village chief, it’s a sad day for our family. We’ve been cursed with two beasts. You must stand up for us," Mrs. Feng, catching the look from Feng Youcai, sat down on the ground, twisted her thigh forcefully, and tears cascaded down instantly as she began pounding her leg rhythmically and weeping, recounting the unfortunate circumstances at home. "Village chief, my son Dahong was such a good boy. In his life, he was respectful to his elders and caring to his younger siblings, loved by his neighbors. Alas, he left us too soon, leaving us old folks behind. My heart aches, village chief. How could Dahong have fathered such vile creatures? They show no respect for elders and no love for their younger siblings. We arranged a marriage for Xuxu with a suitor in excellent standing, yet that wretched girl flatly refused, even threatening to marry over her grandfather’s dead body. She wants to break away from the family, squandering the silver my son earned, claiming it for herself. Village chief, don’t you think this is all premeditated?"