Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Only This One Good Trait

Quanjin leaned in and quietly told his own father the news Yi Meng had just delivered.

After hearing it, Qi Zheng glanced in the direction of his fourth daughter-in-law and then nodded: “I understand. Go call your Uncle Wang and the others over, so we can sit down and discuss.”

“Alright!”

Quanjin replied, then quietly went to ask the heads of the other three families.

The elders from the Wang Family, Sun Family, and Zhou Family were all still alive, though none were older than Qi Zheng.

The three elders had just lain down when they heard someone calling for them, so they got up.

Seeing it was Quanjin, they didn’t ask much, just wrapped their outer robes around themselves and came to Qi Zheng.

Yin Cheng, who had been resting in the Qi Family’s group, nudged Qin Minglang beside him.

Qin Minglang was just about to fall asleep when he was suddenly kicked, and he immediately sat up, alert and tense, looking around.

Only then did Yin Cheng sit up, grumbling in a low voice: “Sleeping, sleeping! At your age, how can you still be so sleepy? Careful you don’t sleep yourself to death!”

“Senior brother.”

Qin Minglang, having seen there was no danger around, knew without asking that it was his senior brother who woke him.

So Qin Minglang was quite helpless.

He was not overly sleepy; he was genuinely exhausted.

Yin Cheng gestured with his chin toward Qi Zheng’s direction: “There are things to discuss, let’s go over and listen.”

“They haven’t called us to discuss anything, going over there uninvited would be rude.”

Qin Minglang looked toward Qi Zheng.

Seeing the elders of the other three families, he knew they were certainly discussing something.

Going without an invitation would indeed be rude.

Yin Cheng rolled his eyes: “At this point, you still see yourself as an outsider? Fine, you don’t go, I’ll go myself!”

Saying this, Yin Cheng was already standing up, bypassing the sleeping lads of the Qi Family, and came to Qi Zheng.

“Mr. Yin, please sit down!”

Qi Zheng did not expect Yin Cheng to come over.

This man was the mentor to his grandsons, and though by seniority he was a generation above him, Qi Zheng had no intention of acting as a senior but held a particular respect for Yin Cheng.

Yin Cheng wasn’t shy about sitting down but spoke with a slightly more formal tone: “Couldn’t sleep, saw you all up, so I thought I’d come over for a chat.”

“I saw you and Mr. Qin had lain down, so I didn’t dare call you. Since Mr. Yin isn’t sleeping, it’s perfect, let’s discuss tomorrow’s plans together.”

Qi Zheng naturally didn’t consider Yin Cheng’s uninvited approach as impolite.

On the contrary, if not for seeing the two doctors already lying down, he would’ve wanted them to join in much earlier.

After all, both were well-traveled, undoubtedly more knowledgeable than the village folk.

“Gentlemen, pardon the intrusion.”

By this time, Qin Minglang also came over.

In contrast to Yin Cheng’s seemingly impolite demeanor, Qin Minglang was much more courteous.

“Mr. Qin, you’re too kind, please sit down, please!”

Qi Zheng quickly invited Qin Minglang to sit.

Now everyone was seated.

Quanjin had already brought over a clay pot filled with warm water, pouring a bowl for each elder.

Only then did Qi Zheng speak: “The fourth son said that when he used to hunt in the mountains, around this time there were quite a few wild fruits that were ripe and edible. So I wanted to ask if we should go up the mountain tomorrow to see. If we can find something to eat, the children could enjoy a treat as well.”

Manbao’s situation couldn’t be mentioned, so Qi Zheng directly shifted the responsibility onto his fourth son, Quanjin.

Qi Zheng didn’t see anything wrong with being a scapegoat, actively cooperating with a nod: “Exactly. Besides, some persimmon trees, jujube trees, and chestnuts and hazelnuts must be ripe by now, possibly even sun-dried and can be preserved for longer.”

The elders of the Sun Family, Zhou Family, and Wang Family had never gone up the mountains at this time of year, so they didn’t know what stance to take, looking instead to the two doctors.

Qin Minglang didn’t speak, while Yin Cheng said: “Around this time there are indeed many mountain goods that are ripe. If we’re lucky, we might even dig up some naturally dried herbs. I think it’s worth a try.”

Unlike Yin Cheng, Qin Minglang opposed: “There are certainly many mountain goods now, but we are completely unfamiliar with this area. If the elderly and children all go up the mountain and meet with danger, it won’t be easy to escape.”

After pausing, Qin Minglang continued: “Previously, encountering a pack of wolves, we could fend them off with fire. But now, the mountains are filled with dry branches and grass; if a fire starts, it could lead to a forest fire.”

Starting a forest fire is far more dangerous than encountering wild beasts.

Encountering wild animals might offer a chance to fight back or escape.

But with a forest fire, all of them, every last one, could end up as ash.

The initial enthusiasm in everyone’s eyes dimmed.

Quanjin glanced at his father, who signaled him with a look, then said: “How about splitting into two teams? I’ll take some people up the mountain tomorrow to search, while the others stay here to rest.”

Thinking of that water pit, Quanjin added: “The water in that pit might seep out more tomorrow; if there is, then everyone can wash up a bit, maybe even do some laundry.”

No one else voiced an opinion on this proposal, but Yin Cheng was the first to applaud: “Exactly! It’s about time we had a proper wash; otherwise, if we continue like this, it’d be easy for both adults and kids to get sick.”

Upon hearing this, the three family elders who were undecided about going up the mountain all nodded in agreement.

Poor villagers, who usually fear illness even at home, find the threat even scarier while fleeing from calamity.

Thus, taking a two-day rest period was decided.

Earle the next dawn, Quanjin awoke and quietly roused his wife, and the couple used the excuse of needing to relieve themselves to head into the woods.

At the water pit, the couple began diligently collecting water once again.

This time, there was no need to dig, so it didn’t take much time.

In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two returned to the group.

The others were still asleep, with only the family’s elderly lady awake, who had replaced the last watchman and was preparing breakfast.

The Sun Family’s old lady saw Quanjin and his wife return from afar, and smiled warmly at Mrs. Qi: “Old sister-in-law, your fourth son and his wife’s relationship is truly good!”

“Hmph, that boy, fourth son, his only good trait is being good to his wife.”

Mrs. Qi snorted, replying with a face full of disdain.

But when she turned to look at her fourth son and daughter-in-law, her eyes were filled with laughter.

The good relationship between her son and daughter-in-law naturally brightened the mood of a mother.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep