The Mightiest Little Peasant c1-799

by Watermelonian, 西瓜星人

  The asphalt road directly connected the main road to the village, across the bridge that went over the stream.

  Tang Hao was immediately greeted warmly by the villagers when he arrived.

  Shi Xuenong, the village elder, was also there to greet him.

  “Thanks to you, Lil Hao, that the village is graced with this road! Thank you so much!” The village elder tightly grasped Tang Hao’s hands without letting go. His face displayed immense gratitude.

  “Haha, look at my Lil Hao! He’s grown up to be such a fine young man!” His uncle laughed heartily with pride.

  The villagers looked on with admiration. “Grandpa Jianyun is so lucky to be blessed with a good grandson!” They exclaimed.

  “A proper road is the first step to prosperity. Now that we have taken the first step, the village will soar to greater heights!” Tang Hao said.

  “What a good speech, Lil Hao!” The village elder became more emotional. He still had not let go of Tang Hao’s hands.

  “Right, that’s a good speech!” The villagers all expressed assent. Some even started clapping.

  A group of middle-aged women looked at him with admiration.

  “Oh, this Lil Hao isn’t too bad! Look at him, he’s handsome and shows promise. If my daughter were a few years younger, I’d match them together.”

  “Pah! Would Lil Hao be interested in that wild child of your family? Lil Hao is such a good kid, he must already be married. Even if he isn’t, Shi Xuefeng’s daughter should be first in line!”

  Tang Hao exchanged pleasantries with the villagers for a while before excusing himself to visit his maternal grandparents.

  His maternal grandparents had taken many health care potions in the meantime. Their bodies became stronger and their complexions became better. They seemed to be in good spirits.

  Tang Hao brought them many bottles of health care potions.

  “Lil Hao! You’ve done another good deed for the village! If Caifeng in heaven knows about what you did, she will be very happy.” Tears welled in Grandma’s eyes as she looked at Tang Hao and reminisced upon her daughter.

  Grandpa felt melancholy and his eyes reddened.

  After chatting with Grandpa and Grandma for a while, Tang Hao went to Yan’er’s house.

  “You’re here, Lil Hao!” Zhang Hongfang greeted him passionately from afar.

  Yan’er came out of the house when he reached the front entrance.

  Yan’er bashfully stood in front of the door. She was dressed plainly without frills, though that did not hide her beauty.

  Her skin was fair and flawless. Her features were pretty, and without any make-up, she looked pure. A gentle smile adorned her face.

  She looked so charming under the bright sun.

  “You’re here, Brother Hao!” She shouted sweetly.

  Her smile was beautiful. Her big eyes were slightly narrowed like crescent moons.

  “Yup! I’m here to look at the completed asphalt road,” Tang Hao said while smiling. “Right, how are your studies?”

  Yan’er had been self-studying at home to catch up on her missed lessons.

  “It’s going fine. I’ve been studying on my own all this while, so it won’t take too long to catch up when I return to school,” Yan’er replied.

  “Great!” Tang Hao smiled.

  “Come in and sit down, Brother Hao!” Yan’er said somewhat bashfully.

  After sitting in the house for a while, Tang Hao went into the mountains.

  The land for the plantation had been planned and the paperwork had been approved. Ever since the roadworks were finished that morning, workers had been busily transporting materials and beginning construction.

  Tang Hao was satisfied with the bustling scene.

  The construction project was rather simple and did not need much time because piling was not needed. According to Liu Dajun, they should be finished within half a month at their current efficiency.

  Tang Hao had reserved the entire mountain range for his plantation business. Medicinal herbs could be planted in the mountains or the valleys. The area was divided into different plots.

  After a brief survey, Tang Hao ran deep into the mountains toward the magical spring.

  He circled the area around the magical spring and found a good plot of land for planting ginseng, while lingzhi could be planted next to the spring.

  Ginseng and lingzhi had many uses. They are essential components in many potions and elixirs.

  Of course, the ginseng and lingzhi would need to be grown in the wild and not artificially cultivated.

  Tang Hao’s plantation methods could be considered as artificial cultivation, though with his methods, the product was wildly different and achieved a similar potency to wild-grown herbs.

  The plantation requirements for lingzhi were not as strict as that of ginseng. Ginseng thrived in low temperatures. They were in the southern part of the country, which was not a suitable place to grow ginseng.

  Tang Hao naturally had a solution for that.

  He had already prepared a set of jade talismans and laid down a freezing ice formation. The area would turn cold which made it suitable for ginseng cultivation.

  He drew a circle in the valley, then dug meter-deep holes at regular intervals around its perimeter and planted the jade talismans inside.

  When the task was complete, Tang Hao could sense the temperature in the area drop.

  Then, he retrieved a hoe, plowed the area and sprinkled water from the magical spring.

  He then dug small holes and buried a ginseng seedling in each of the holes.

  Two or three hours passed since he started the task. The sky was turning dark.

  Tang Hao then went next to the magical spring and set up the lingzhi plantation before leaving.

  The area was deep in the mountains and hardly anyone went there. He was not afraid that someone might discover his secret, though he planned to lay down a maze formation in the future so that normal people would not be able to access it.

  Chapter 80 - Cousin Brother Shi Dazhu

  Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

  The sky was already dark when Tang Hao emerged from the mountains.

  In the village, smoke appeared from the chimneys on the rooftops, and the faint aroma of dinner permeated the air.

  Before he had driven too far, he saw a minivan drive into the village and pass him at a fast speed. Tang Hao glanced at the minivan and was surprised.

  There were two people in the vehicle. The person driving was a well-built young man of about twenty-something years of age. He had a square face and thick eyebrows. He looked rather masculine.

  On the passenger seat next to him was a woman of similar age. She looked proper and had a charming air around her.

  Tang Hao was unfamiliar with the woman, though he knew the man very well. His name was Shi Dazhu and he was his cousin.

  They were very close when they were kids. They used to play together in the fields, though after they grew up, they met each other less frequently. According to his uncle, Brother Dazhu worked in town and rarely came back to the village.

  The two vehicles passed each other. Suddenly, the minivan stopped and a head popped out of the window and yelled, “Lil Hao?”

  Tang Hao stopped, turned around, and replied, “You’re back, Bro Dazhu!”

  “Oh, it’s really Lil Hao! No wonder I thought you looked familiar, it’s really you! It’s been a while since we met!” Shi Dazhu said heartily as he got out of the car and walked over.

  Tang Hao stepped out of his vehicle and went to greet him.

  Shi Dazhu examined Tang Hao from head to toe and said, “You’ve changed a lot, Lil Hao! I almost couldn’t recognize you.

  “I’ve heard all about you from Dad. You’re awesome!” Shi Dazhu said excitedly as he patted Tang Hao’s shoulder.

  Tang Hao smiled. He then looked over at the minivan and said, “So you’re free to come home, and is that… Sister-in-l
aw?”

  Shi Dazhu was taken aback and his expression stiffened. His expression became sullen. “Not yet!”

  Tang Hao noticed the change in his facial expression and asked, “What’s wrong, Bro Dazhu?”

  “It’s… It’s nothing. Come, let me introduce her to you.” As he spoke, he pulled Tang Hao over to the minivan.

  “Ying’er, this is my younger cousin. I’ve told you about him, he’s the one with immense talents! It’s thanks to him that the village has a new road.”

  “Lil Hao, her surname is Gao. She’s called Gao Ying!” Shi Dazhu introduced the two people to each other.

  Gao Ying stepped out of the car and examined Tang Hao. Her eyes showed some surprise.

  She had heard Shi Dazhu mention about his cousin before. That cousin of his seemed like a great man. He knew many important people, and he was going to set up a plantation near the village.

  She had imagined that such a bigwig must be a wealthy person and would dress extravagantly. However, the boy in front of him wore plain clothes. His pants were stained with mud, and he rode on a little electric three-wheeled motorcycle. He was as plain as anyone could be.

  He was not only plain. Some people might think that he was shabby or poor.

  She looked at Tang Hao and could not bring her mental image together with the boy standing in front of her.

  ‘Well, maybe he likes to be like that!’

  Gao Ying thought so, then she smiled at Tang Hao. “Can I call you Lil Hao too?”

  “Of course, Sister-in-law!” Tang Hao smiled.

  Gao Ying was shocked, though she smiled and did not reply.

  Shi Dazhu grinned somewhat bashfully and playfully glared at Tang Hao.

  Tang Hao thought it was a little strange. He could see that the two were lovers. Gao Ying was tall and slender with a charming face. Her clothes were trendy. Brother Dazhu should be happy for finding such a perfect girlfriend.

  Something else seemed to be the problem.

  Since Brother Dazhu did not say anything, he felt that it was inappropriate to ask.

  They chatted for a while more, then parted ways. Tang Hao rode on his little three-wheeled motorcycle and returned home.

  Tang Hao spent the whole night crafting talismans for laying formations.

  The formation he was preparing was called the leyline gathering formation.

  The leyline gathering formation was similar to the qi gathering formation, though the latter was used to gather qi from the air, while the former was used to gather qi from the earth.

  The qi in the air in modern times was thin, so the qi gathering formation would not be as effective as the leyline gathering formation.

  With the leyline gathering formation, qi from the earth could be gathered and used to nourish the growing medicinal herbs. Especially for ginseng and lingzhi, which would usually take decades before they mature. Tang Hao could not afford to wait.

  He first crafted a set of talismans to place around the magical spring. In the future, he would produce more sets to place around the entire plantation.

  Tang Hao departed for Dragonrock Village early next morning.

  He surveyed the ginseng plantation next to the magical spring. With the magical spring water, the ginseng seedlings grew a little taller, way faster than his expectations.

  He cleaned the area of weeds with a hoe, retrieved some planks from his pocket dimension, and made a fence to surround the area.

  After he was done, the ginseng garden looked quite genuine.

  Tang Hao wiped away the sweat on his forehead and grinned. He felt satisfied and proud of himself.

  Then, Tang Hao started laying the leyline gathering formation around the area, then went to survey the lingzhi plantation grounds.

  He had scattered the lingzhi spores the day before. With the nourishment of the magical spring water, there were already signs of growth.

  “Not bad! Not bad at all!” Tang Hao smiled gleefully. He retrieved a bucket and filled the pail with magical spring water, then watered the ginseng garden.

  It was already noon when he was finished with his tasks.

  Tang Hao left the mountains with a hoe on his shoulder.

  Once out of the mountains, he headed toward the village. He noticed that several cars were parked at the entrance of the village, while a crowd was gathered outside of the houses.

  ‘Isn’t that Uncle’s house?’ Tang Hao thought as he looked at where the crowd was gathered.

  He hastened his footsteps and ran there as fast as he could.

  “Lil Hao!” The villagers greeted him as he arrived at the scene.

  Tang Hao squeezed past the crowd and saw that a small group of people was blocking in front of his uncle’s front door.

  His uncle and aunt were standing at the door. They looked miserable. Shi Dazhu and Gao Ying were also there. A middle-aged woman was pulling Gao Ying’s hand and leading her away from the crowd. “Listen to me, Ying’er. Go home with me!”

  “I’m not going, Mom!” Gao Ying stood on the spot defiantly.

  “You…” Gao Ying’s mother was furious. “Silly girl! Don’t you know any shame? You’re not married yet, how can you stay over at another man’s house?”

  “I don’t care what you say, Mom, I’m not leaving. I’m only marrying Bro Dazhu and no one else!” Gao Ying said.

  “Wake up, Ying’er! You’re not a child anymore. Why are you still so naive? Look at this. This is their house! It’s so broken and shabby, how can anyone stay in there?

  “Your Bro Dazhu can’t afford to buy a house. Where will you be living after you’re married? Can you afford a child, and will you be able to send him to a good school or college? All that needs money!

  “It’s not that I don’t agree with this marriage, but just look at their house. They can’t pay the bride price of a hundred thousand yuan, and he can’t afford a new house. You’ll be suffering if you follow him. You are my only daughter. How can I bear to watch you suffer?

  “Ying’er, you should be considerate for your mother. Your father is worried sick because of you. He’s still bedridden at home!” Gao Ying’s mother said empathically.

  Chapter 81 - So What If I Slapped You?

  Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

  Gao Ying was slightly moved by her mother’s words.

  Her eyes flashed with agony by the end of her speech.

  She took a deep breath and said defiantly, “I’m not leaving, Mom! I understand what you say, but I just can’t do it.

  “I only love Bro Dazhu and no other man. Bro Dazhu is poor, but that’s OK. We have hands and feet and we can earn a living. We might suffer now, but we will have a bright future.

  “Mom, didn’t you say that you and Dad were poor when you married him? But aren’t you fine now?”

  Mrs. Gao was stunned and had no response to that.

  “Silly girl, times are different now, so how could your situation be the same? You don’t have to suffer but why do you insist so? Is it that easy to earn money? Your Bro Dazhu isn’t very educated and can only do menial work. Is there a future in that?”

  Shi Dazhu stood aside and silently listened to it all. He gritted his teeth and displayed an expression of agony.

  He could only lament his incapability.

  Uncle sighed. He looked helpless.

  He was happy with Gao Ying. She was beautiful and was diligent with housework.

  However, this was reality!

  He lived in a mountain village and did not have much money. He could not afford to have a daughter-in-law from the city. The bride price alone was already one hundred thousand yuan. His family did not have that much money.

  Auntie also sighed. She looked at Dazhu with pity.

  The villagers shook their heads. They knew that it was too difficult for a villager to court a wife from the city.

  “Stop fooling around, Ying’er. Go home with me now. Your Dad and I will never agree to this marriage. This isn�
��t up to you to decide!” Mrs. Gao said sternly and dragged her daughter out.

  “Don’t force me, Mom. Why can’t you just let me petulant just this once?” Gao Ying was on the verge of tears.

  “No. I can compromise with everything else but this.”

  Gao Ying put on a pitiful face. “Mom, if you want me to leave, then I’d rather die!”

  Mrs. Gao was shocked. “You… You silly girl, how dare you say that? Do you want to anger me to death?”

  Mrs. Gao was angry, though she became less aggressive. She was afraid that her daughter might do something stupid out of desperation.

  Dazhu stepped forward and kneeled on the ground.

  “Please allow me to marry Ying’er, Madam! I will work hard and do my best to bring happiness to Ying’er.”

  Mrs. Gao was taken aback. Weakness flashed in her eyes.

  She did not dislike Dazhu, but his family was too poor, and she could not bear to see her daughter suffer a life of poverty.

  She sighed lightly. Just when she was about to speak again, she heard a shrill voice coming from next to her.

  “Hey, Xiuqin, don’t ever agree to it! You don’t have to care about him. He’s just a poor village kid and yet he wants to marry your beloved daughter? He must be dreaming.”

  A middle-aged woman walked over as she spoke. Her face looked haughty and rude.

  “Didn’t we agree that Ying’er should marry Boss Feng? We’ve also decided on the bride price: Five hundred thousand yuan, plus a car worth two hundred thousand yuan.”

  She then glanced at Shi Dazhu. “Hey, that Shi kid, do you hear that? It’s five hundred thousand yuan! You won’t earn that much money even if you work for the rest of your life.

  “If you know what’s good for you, you should give up. Leave Ying’er. Why are you not conscious of your status?

  “Ah, this remote, poor village is making me uncomfortable. Ying’er, come follow us home!”

  Gao Ying glared at her fiercely.