Chapter 8: Flourishing.
Three years passed in a flash.
Nine-year-old Xu Mingwei had grown a lot, reaching nearly 1.4 meters, looking like a half-grown lad.
He had also learned the breathing technique and the twelve Moves of the Small Dragon Elephant Skill and could Cultivate independently.
The biggest changes, however, were in his strength and his eyes.
The Heavenly Strength destiny talent was not for show; many adults now couldn't compare to him.
His eyes also became sharper and more profound.
Teenagers his age felt a chill in their hearts when they saw him.
Not to mention them, even adults would flinch when they saw his gloomy face.
They felt his gaze was as sharp as a knife, plunging into their hearts.
However, Xu Mingwei mostly kept his edge hidden.
He was steady and low-key, just like Xu Chuan.
March.
After the spring rain.
The fine rain had washed the land, making it glisten with a deep brown sheen, and wild shepherd's purse on the field ridges stood up with tender leaves, adorned with water droplets.
Egrets skimmed over the rice paddies filled with spring water, their sharp beaks suddenly plunging into the surface to snatch a silver crucian carp.
Field mice scurried out of the damp haystacks, and as they secretly nibbled on newly sprouted pea shoots, they were chased by the water-watching old yellow dog, splashing a trail of mud.
In the boundless rice fields, common folk wearing bamboo hats could be seen everywhere, bending over to replant rice seedlings, their bare feet making a "guchu" sound as they stepped into the mud.
Xu Chuan was busy in the rice field, and Xu Mingwei followed beside him, transplanting seedlings.
Xu Mingyuan carried a large teapot and two lidded cups, heading towards them.
"Father, Eldest Brother, Mother sent me with some herbal tea for you."
Xu Chuan looked up and saw Xu Mingyuan, smiling slightly. He turned to Xu Mingwei, who was diligently transplanting seedlings, and said, "Shitou, come up and rest for a bit."
"Father, I'm not tired. This row will be finished very soon. I'll rest after I finish here."
"As you wish."
Xu Chuan chuckled and came ashore.
He took the tea poured by Xu Mingyuan and drank a large gulp, "Guluulu."
Xu Mingyuan looked at Xu Mingwei and sighed, "Eldest Brother is truly diligent."
"Unlike you, you're like a mischievous monkey, always impatient," Xu Chuan said with a laugh and a scolding tone.
Xu Mingwei stuck out his tongue and chuckled.
"I'll go help Eldest Brother too."
Saying that, he took off his green cloth shoes, rolled up his pant legs to his knees, went down into the rice field, and walked towards Xu Mingwei, shouting as he went, "Brother, I'm here to help you."
Xu Mingwei looked up and smiled slightly, "Then I thank A Yuan."
"Walk slowly, don't fall."
Seeing this scene of brotherly harmony and respect, Xu Chuan was filled with endless contentment.
His eldest son was steady, like a towering mountain, capable of carrying on the family legacy.
Though his second son was lively, he was also quick-witted, intelligent, and adaptable.
As for his youngest son, he was now three years old, could walk and run, and was cheerful and lively.
Xu Chuan had Cultivated the Small Dragon Elephant Skill for three years, and now, whenever he Cultivated, a warm Qi flowed throughout his body.
This was Inner Strength.
However, to become a third-rate Martial Artist, one needed to open at least thirty-six acupoints.
He had only opened over thirty acupoints now.
According to the Inner Strength Manual.
If one opened all three hundred and sixty-five acupoints in the body, one would reach the Acquired Peak, with Inner Strength flowing through all the Zhou Tian acupoints, ceaselessly.
A first-rate Martial Artist needed to open three hundred acupoints, and a second-rate one needed to open one hundred and eight.
Although Xu Mingwei was slightly slower, he had also opened twenty acupoints.
His advantage lay in his youth; opening acupoints was more advantageous for him, and surpassing Xu Chuan in the future would be effortless.
With Xu Mingyuan joining in, they finished transplanting the seedlings in the morning, and the Father and sons happily returned home.
As they reached the doorstep, a fragrant aroma wafted towards them.
"The smell of chicken soup, and also braised carp."
Just as he mumbled a few words, Xu Mingyuan's stomach rumbled "gugu."
Under the eaves.
Seeing his Father and elder brothers return, Xu Mingxuan cried out in a childish voice, "Mother, Father and brothers are back."
After speaking, he ran towards Xu Chuan, calling out "Father, Father."
"Tantou, you only know how to call Father, what about us?"
Xu Mingyuan rubbed Xu Mingxuan's head, squinting his eyes as he spoke.
"Second Brother, you often snatch my things, so I won't call you."
He turned his head and smiled at Xu Mingwei, calling out, "Eldest Brother."
"Heh, I don't believe I can't handle you!"
Xu Mingyuan pulled Xu Mingxuan into his embrace and then frantically tickled him.
Xu Mingxuan giggled incessantly until he begged for mercy, and only then did Xu Mingyuan let him go.
"Alright, go wash up, and let's eat."
Xu Chuan went to the kitchen and glanced at Bai Jing, seeing that she was busy.
Bai Jing saw him and smiled slightly, "Husband, go eat. My last dish will be ready soon."
"I smelled the fragrance from afar. Thank you, my dear wife. It is my good fortune to have married you."
"You talk too much!"
Bai Jing laughed and scolded him, but she was clearly very pleased, a blooming smile on her face.
That night.
"Husband, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?" Xu Chuan was calm and composed, pondering Xu Mingyuan's path.
He was now seven years old, and it was time.
However, he planned to ask Xu Mingyuan before considering the specifics.
Bai Jing took his large hand and placed it on her belly.
Xu Chuan froze for a moment, then turned to look, blinking his eyes.
"Is this… another one?"
Childbirth was hard, and Xu Chuan was understanding, originally not wanting to have more children.
"We aren't…"
Bai Jing playfully glared at him, "It's all your fault, Husband."
"Since it's done, this matter cannot be completely avoided. Even if it's done outside, there's always a chance. Don't you want it, Husband?"
"How could I not!" Xu Chuan quickly said, then raised his arm and pulled her into his embrace.
"Since it has come to my Xu Family, it is fate. Of course, we must give birth to it. Even if there are seven or eight more, our family can afford to raise them now."
Two years ago, Xu Chuan bought another twenty mu of farmland and forty mu of mountain forest.
These farmlands were not rice paddies, usually costing over ten taels per mu.
Mountain forests were even cheaper, seven or eight taels per mu, but one needed to cut down trees and clear the land before planting fruit trees.
These farmlands and mountain forests were planted with several kinds of fruits: strawberries and loquats in spring, watermelons, lychees, and peaches in summer, persimmons and pomelos in autumn, and sugarcane and winter jujubes in winter.
Tree-grown fruits might take two more years to bear fruit.
However, fruits like watermelons, strawberries, and sugarcane, under Xu Chuan's careful Cultivation, yielded a considerable amount each year.
These fruits alone could bring in hundreds of taels of income annually.
The main reason was Xu Chuan's excellent Cultivation; his produce was superior to what ordinary families grew, and everyone prioritized buying fruits from his Xu Family.
Only then would they buy from others.
Currently, the Xu Family owned sixty mu of rice paddies, twenty mu of farmland, and forty mu of mountain forest land.
In Dongxi Village, they were definitely considered a well-off family, living in abundance.
Several days later.
At Er Gou's house.
Xu Yan returned from patrolling the mountain forest and saw Er Gou lying idly on a reclining chair, looking carefree, which immediately infuriated her.
She picked up the broom behind the door, ready to strike him.
"Oh, no!"
Er Gou sprang from the reclining chair and turned to run, his movements remarkably practiced.
"Xu Yan, what are you doing!"
"Let's talk nicely, don't resort to violence."
"Don't think I can't beat you; I'm just a good man who doesn't fight women!"
"Heh heh, if you were as capable as Xu Chuan, I would be utterly devoted to you and let you have your way in everything."
"It's a pity I, Xu Yan, was blind to have fallen for a good-for-nothing like you. You're not good at martial arts, not good at literature, and not even good at farming. What else can you do?"
"Just sit around and do nothing?"
A chaotic scene ensued, like chickens and dogs flying.
Their son and daughter returned from the school, and seeing this scene, they were accustomed to it and walked directly towards the Xu Family.
"Da Niu, Fangfang, it's almost noon, why are you here?"
In the courtyard.
Xu Mingwei stopped his movements and looked over.
Xu Mingyuan heard the sound and came out. Seeing this, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Second Gou Uncle and Auntie are fighting again?"
Da Niu sighed softly, "My Father really can't compare to Xu Chuan. My mother is chasing him with a broom."
"What's it about this time? Is it still because Auntie is dissatisfied with Second Gou Uncle's idleness?"
Chen Fangfang said in surprise, "A Yuan, you're so smart, you guessed it right away."
"My mother always compares Father to Xu Chuan."
"My Father is the most amazing person in Dongxi Village. How can Second Gou Uncle, with his lazy nature, compare?" Xu Mingyuan admired Xu Chuan immensely, as if he were a Heavenly God.
"Da Niu, tell me, perhaps I can give you some advice."
Da Niu repeated everything that Er Gou and his wife had said.
Xu Mingyuan pondered for a moment and said, "I heard Father say that qingyu pear is not that easy to grow. Auntie is overly ambitious and relies on luck, and she will eventually suffer losses."
"In these three years, your family must have invested quite a bit in qingyu pear. Seeing that the capital is almost lost, her temper becomes unpredictable, leading to marital discord."
"I think you should persuade Auntie to give up growing qingyu pear."
"If we don't grow that, what should my family grow then?" Da Niu asked curiously.
Xu Mingwei also listened quietly, wanting to know what good ideas his younger brother might have.
"Follow our family and grow some common fruits. Firstly, your own family won't have to worry, and secondly, you can sell them for money."