The Mightiest Little Peasant c1-799

by Watermelonian, 西瓜星人

  After a bumpy ride, Tang Hao finally rode past the mountainous dirt roads and reached a flat road.

  Soon, a village appeared within sight.

  That was Dragonrock Village!

  Chapter 50

  Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

  The little three-wheeled motorcycle drove past a stretch of muddy dirt road toward the village.

  A comforting scenery of green mountains and clear waters greeted him. Small hovels were built along the mountainside in the distance. He could see smoke rising from the chimneys.

  After crossing a bridge over a stream, he reached the entrance of the village.

  There were some women doing laundry next to the stream. They carefully examined Tang Hao. Dragonrock Village was a small settlement and not many people lived there. Everyone knew each other and so they would be curious whenever a stranger turned up.

  “Eh! Whose kid is this?” The group of women talked among themselves.

  Suddenly, a woman stood up and exclaimed in surprise, “Oh? Aren’t you Lil Hao?”

  “Lil Hao? Isn’t that Caifeng’s son?”

  The full name of Tang Hao’s mother was Shi Caifeng.

  Tang Hao stopped and turned to look. “Auntie!” He greeted that woman. She was Liu Yan, his maternal uncle’s wife.

  “Oh, you’re really Lil Hao? I haven’t seen you for only months and I almost didn’t recognize you.” Liu Yan smiled.

  “He’s really Caifeng’s son! He’s already so tall!”

  “Ah, he must be leading a hard life! I’ve heard that he’s a delivery boy now. That’s not too bad!”

  The women discussed him while doing their laundry.

  Liu Yan placed the clean laundry in a basket, then walked uphill from the streamside. “Lil Hao, you’re here just in time. Come, let’s have lunch at my house!” She said hospitably.

  Tang Hao felt welcome. His aunt had a friendly personality and had always treated him well. She always invited him for a meal every time he visited.

  “It’s alright, Auntie. I want to visit Grandpa and Grandma first. Are they still healthy?”

  “Not bad, but as you know, they’re already old. It’s unavoidable that they have small problems!” Liu Yan said.

  “Hop on, Auntie, let me give you a ride,” Tang Hao beckoned.

  Liu Yan was happy. “You’re such a courteous kid! Right, how’s work?”

  “Not bad!” Tang Hao nodded.

  “Good to know!”

  After he sent Liu Yan back and exchanged greetings with his uncle, Tang Hao rode toward Grandma’s house.

  From a distance, he saw Grandpa sitting outside the house basking in the sun. His body was covered in mud, evidently having just returned from toiling in the fields. Grandpa had been a laborer all his life and could not sit still at home, even at this age.

  “Grandpa!” Tang Hao hopped off the motorcycle and greeted his maternal grandfather.

  “Lil Hao?” Grandpa stood up. An expression of joy came to his face. “Why are you here all of a sudden? You didn’t inform me before this, I could’ve asked your Grandma to prepare some good food for you.”

  After that, he turned around to enter the house.

  “Eh, it’s fine, Grandpa! Anything will do!” Tang Hao said urgently.

  They entered the house and Tang Hao helped his maternal grandmother to prepare the meal. They sat happily around the table and enjoyed a simple lunch.

  “How are you lately, Lil Hao? Everything fine at work?” Grandpa asked.

  “I’ve recently quit my job, Grandpa. I was introduced to a few rich bosses and we’re now preparing to go into the Chinese medicine business. Actually, I’m here to survey a location.”

  Grandpa looked surprised, then he said happily, “That’s great news! These rich bosses are important people, you’ll have to treasure these connections, Lil Hao. Right, what kind of location are you looking for?”

  “I’m looking for a plot of land for a medicinal herb plantation.”

  “Plantation?” Grandpa had an idea. “What do you think of our Dragonrock Village, Lil Hao?”

  “Well… I haven’t surveyed the place yet. I should go take a better look later.”

  “Alright!”

  After lunch, Tang Hao gave Grandpa and Grandma several bottles of health-care potions from his backpack. The potions were exceptional nutritional supplements for elderly folk.

  “This must be very expensive, right, Lil Hao? You don’t have to buy these for us the next time,” Grandma said endearingly.

  “It’s not expensive at all, Grandma. I made these myself. I’ve picked up some herbalist skills recently and learned how to concoct potions. I sell these to the big bosses. They’re really effective.”

  “Really?” Grandpa was doubtful.

  “You can give it a try if you don’t believe me.”

  Grandpa doubtfully twisted open the bottle cap and gulped one mouthful. Then, his entire body trembled and his eyes opened round and wide. His face displayed an expression of incredulity.

  The potion was cool in his mouth but became boiling hot when it reached his stomach. It turned into warm currents of energy that spread throughout his body. His whole body felt like melting and it was incredibly comfortable.

  He closed his eyes and exhaled a contented sigh. He was enjoying the moment.

  When he opened his eyes, his emotions were spirited. “That’s incredible, Lil Hao, your potion is amazing. I haven’t felt so energetic for years, and my body is filled with strength.”

  After that, he stood up and stretched his limbs.

  “Haha! I feel like I’m a few years younger already. This is really good stuff, Lil Hao! You’ll never worry about money anymore with this talent.”

  Grandma smiled warmly. “Lil Hao, I’m so happy for your talents.”

  After chatting with Grandpa and Grandma for a while more, Tang Hao left the house and surveyed the surroundings of the village.

  Dragonrock Village was situated deep in the mountains and on a largely untouched plot of land. The flow of qi in this area was much stronger than Tang Village or in town, and was quite suitable for his purposes of planting medicinal herbs.

  “It’s decided then! If I can set up a plantation here, it’s also good news for the people of Dragonrock Village.” Tang Hao made up his mind as he stood on top of a hill and looked at the surroundings.

  “After this, I’ll have to discuss the issue with the village elder and the council.”

  He turned around and got off the hill, back toward the village.

  At the crossroads toward the village, he saw a beautiful silhouette coming toward him.

  She was a girl of seventeen or eighteen. She was dressed very plainly, though that did not conceal her natural beauty. Her body was slim, and her ink-black hair was like a waterfall. It danced gently when the mountain wind blew.

  Under the sun, her face was beautiful and pure like a lily, or as enchanting as a fairy that had descended from the heavens to the mortal world.

  Tang Hao was stunned. He stopped in his tracks.

  “Yan’er!” His mouth opened automatically.

  The young girl had also noticed Tang Hao by then. She furrowed her brows and looked at him, then displayed a look of surprise. “You’re… Brother Hao!”

  She quickly walked toward him. Her innocent face smiled.

  Her smile was charming and her voice was sweet, like a gust of spring breeze that touched one’s heart.

  “You’re really Brother Hao? I almost couldn’t recognize you!”

  “You too. You’ve changed from a small girl to such a beautiful woman.” Tang Hao smiled.

  As he looked at her, he offered silent praises in his heart.

  This was not the girl who had caught crayfish and dug sweet potatoes with him when they were a lot younger. In the blink of an eye, she had grown to be a magnificent young woman.

  Her beauty did not belong to this little village in the mountains.<
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  Chapter 51

  The two people stood at the crossroads and looked at each other.

  Suddenly, they broke into laughter at the same time.

  Tang Hao saw the basketful of tangerines in Yan’er’s hands and rushed forward to take it from her. “Let me help you!”

  Shi Yan’er silently nodded.

  Two of them walked back toward the village, shoulder to shoulder.

  “When did you arrive here, Brother Hao?” Shi Yan’er asked in a low voice.

  “Not too long ago,” Tang Hao answered, “Right, Yan’er, you should be in the third year of high school when the next semester starts?”

  Shi Yan’er lowered her head when she heard the question. She had a bitter expression on her face.

  “What’s wrong?” Tang Hao asked.

  “Brother Hao, don’t you know that I’ve dropped out of school?” Shi Yan’er answered with some difficulty. She sounded dejected. “Half a year ago, my dad hurt his leg when he went into the mountains. We’ve spent more than a hundred thousand yuan trying to find a cure.

  “We’ve emptied our family savings and incurred many debts to cure the leg. I can’t continue studying anymore. I’m helping Mom tend to her tangerine grove at home.”

  Tang Hao was silent when he heard that.

  “I’m sorry, Yan’er, I didn’t know…” he apologized after a long while.

  “It’s fine!” Shi Yan’er shook her head and smiled.

  Tang Hao could see that the smile was forced. There was a hint of sorrow in her eyes.

  He sighed and felt sorry for her.

  His impression of Yan’er was that she was an intelligent and obedient girl. She always had good results, and she was also admitted to Westridge First High School. She was a year younger than him and was his junior.

  He was expelled from school for fighting in the semester she enrolled in the school. He had never met her in school and had only heard it from his maternal uncle.

  This was his first time hearing about her father’s accident.

  Yan’er’s intelligence should have been enough to be admitted to a prestigious university. Her future would have been bright if not that she had to drop out of school. Tang Hao felt that it was unfortunate.

  Yan’er smiled when she saw Tang Hao fall silent. “It’s alright, Brother Hao, it’s just school! Next time I can start a small business, or otherwise… I can deliver packages along with you!”

  “You shouldn’t do that. Delivering packages is tough work! It’s not a job for girls like you,” Tang Hao replied.

  “What’s a little bit of hard work?”

  “You cheeky girl…” Tang Hao smiled. “I’ve already quit my job. I’m planning to start a business with some capital that I have.”

  “Oh? What kind of business?” Yan’er’s eyes sparkled as she asked curiously.

  “Medicinal herbs. I’m planning to set up a plantation here in Dragonrock Village.”

  Yan’er’s eyes opened wide. “I’ve heard that you need a lot of money to set up a plantation?”

  “Indeed! But I do have some money, and I’m connected with some rich bosses, so there shouldn’t be a problem,” Tang Hao said.

  “Really? That’s great news!” Yan’er said excitedly, “Then you’ll have to hire me in the future. I’m very hardworking.”

  “Silly girl, you… should go back to school. You’ll have a better future if you graduate.”

  “But…” Shi Yan’er lowered her head.

  “Alright. I’ll follow you home and check out your dad’s injury. I’ve picked up some Chinese medical skills lately, maybe I can help,” Tang Hao said.

  “My dad has visited a few hospitals, even those in the district capital and province capital. We’ve spent a lot of money, and nothing has worked,” Shi Yan’er said dejectedly.

  “Let me have a look!” Tang Hao sped up his footsteps toward the village.

  The path wound down from the mountainside and they soon reached the base. After another turn in the road, the village was in front of them. Tang Hao furrowed his brows when he saw that many people were gathered at a location in the village and causing a commotion.

  Many cars were parked at the entrance to the village. One of them was even a police car.

  The people were gathered at Yan’er’s house.

  Yan’er was anxious when she saw that. She started running toward her house.

  “What’s going on, Yan’er?” Tang Hao asked.

  “They’re debt collectors.” Yan’er’s face looked pale, and her eyes were filled with panic and helplessness.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll go with you.”

  The two of them hurried in that direction.

  A crowd of people were gathered in the clearing in front of Yan’er’s house. Almost the entire village was there.

  In the middle of the crowd were about ten people dressed like hooligans. They looked unfriendly. Behind them were two uniformed police officers, watching the scene unfold with a mocking look on their faces and a cigarette in their mouths.

  Standing in front was a short, fat middle-aged man in a business suit. His nose was flat and his face was full of pimples. It was not a pretty sight. On his girthy neck was a thick gold necklace, and all his ten fingers were adorned with gold rings.

  His appearance was exactly that of a windfall tycoon as if he was worried no one knew that he was rich.

  This fat person was standing in front of the door with a fierce expression on his face.

  Standing at the doorway was a woman, and next to her was a middle-aged man in a wheelchair.

  “Shi Xuefeng, and you, Zhang Hongfang, both of you better listen carefully. You had better return the one hundred and fifty thousand yuan today. Otherwise… I’ll let you know the extent of Hu Dahai’s power.” The fat person, whose name was Hu Dahai, said viciously.

  Zhang Hongfang was a little pale in the face. “Boss Hu, is it possible… that you give us a few more days? You should know the situation of my family,” she begged.

  “Delay a few more days? I remember you saying the same thing the last time I was here! How long more are you going to delay it?” Hu Dahai laughed coldly.

  “But we… we really have no other choice!” Zhang Hongfang begged.

  “No other choice? Don’t you have a piece of farmland and a house? They’re not worth much, but you still can get some money out of those.”

  “Where will we stay if we sell our house? Boss Hu, you are a gentleman with a big heart. Please give us a few more days! We will do our best to gather the money for you.” Zhang Hongfang was almost kneeling.

  The crowd of villagers felt sorry for them when they saw this scene.

  “Sigh! Xuefeng’s family is extremely unlucky. How did a happy family turn out to be like this? Sigh! I feel so sorry for them!”

  “This Hu Dahai is too cruel. He’s like a tyrant! I’ve heard that he only lent them the money because he is fond of Yan’er, and now he’s making Xuefeng’s life difficult.”

  “Yan’er is the treasure of our village. She can’t marry a man like him!”

  The villagers were indignant, but they were helpless against the group of hooligans and the two police officers.

  Hu Dahai was the terror of the village. He was relatives with the police chief in the nearby town. Any regular villager that crossed him would be hauled into jail.

  “Gather the money? Do you think you can? You won’t even get that much money even if you sold yourselves!” Hu Dahai smiled coldly. “Didn’t I say this before? As long as you agree to marry Yan’er to me, I will write off the entire debt.

  “Think about it. What kind of person am I? So many people want to be my parents-in-law. I’m offering this chance to you and you reject it. Are you out of your mind?

  “Here! This is the contract. It will come into force as soon as you sign it, and we will be relatives after that. When Yan’er comes of age, we will immediately hold the ceremony and have a fabulous wedding banquet.”

&nbs
p; Hu Dahai pulled out a contract as he spoke and shoved it in Zhang Hongfang’s face.

  Chapter 52

  Shi Xuefeng, sitting in the wheelchair, looked at the contract and painfully closed his eyes.

  This was all his fault. If he had not gone into the mountain that day, or if he had not met with that accident, none of this would have happened.

  His family was in shambles because of the accident. His wife and daughter were also burdened.

  Because of him, Shi Yan’er had quit school. He would not allow any more harm to come to her.

  “We will not sign this contract. Shi Yan’er is our daughter. We cannot have her marry someone like you,” Shi Xuefeng opened his eyes and said angrily.

  “I will gather the one hundred and fifty thousand yuan as soon as I can and return the full amount to you. If you want to force my hand now and insist on marrying my daughter, I would rather die together with you right now.”

  After that, he pulled out a kitchen knife from behind him.

  Hu Dahai trembled when he saw that and took a step back. “What… What do you think you’re doing? Let me tell you, don’t be rash, it’s against the law to point a knife at someone.”

  “Illegal? I don’t even want my life!” Shi Xuefeng’s eyes bulged, displaying a hint of insanity.

  “Don’t… don’t…” Hu Dahai retreated hastily behind the two police officers. “See that? He’s threatening me with a knife in broad daylight.”

  One of the police officers frowned and stubbed out his cigarette. “Put the knife down now, Shi Xuefeng, otherwise I’ll arrest you and lock you up for a few days.”

  “You can ask him to get lost! I’m not putting the knife down as long as he is still here!” Shi Xuefeng roared madly.

  Zhang Hongfang could not bear to see all this. She covered her face with her hands, then crouched and started sobbing.

  The crowd of villagers were furious.