Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Dad, Are We Still Digging?

“Hmm, if this matter turns out to be true, those rascals will surely make a fuss. I have to go along, or I won’t feel at ease.”

Qi Zheng said this while putting on his half-length boots made of rabbit fur, then donned his rabbit fur vest, and only then put on his jacket again.

“You stay inside with Manbao. I’ll come back and tell you once there’s news.”

After speaking, Qi Zheng put on his hat and left the room.

Mrs. Qi watched her husband’s figure disappear at the doorway, silently sighed once more.

She looked down at her little granddaughter sleeping soundly beside her and couldn’t help but sigh softly again, “Little darling, if this turns out to be true, wouldn’t that make you a great big lucky star.”

As she said this, she gently tapped the little girl’s nose with her fingertip.

“Mmm…”

Qi Manman swallowed, seemingly dreaming of eating something delicious.

…

Qi Zheng walked around the courtyard, ensuring that the lanterns were all hung up and the candles in each room were still lit. Only then did he have his six sons follow him to the toolshed.

“Dad, what are we doing with the tools this late?”

Qi Quanli dared to ask again.

Qi Zheng glared at this youngest son and said, “Don’t talk too much, just do what you’re told.”

Then he turned to Qi Sangui, “Third, you and the fifth and sixth go get some firewood for the backyard.”

Qi Sangui, who was always quiet and willing to work, acknowledged and headed next door.

The neighboring room was the woodshed.

The previous occupants of the house left suddenly, and there was still plenty of wood left, well-preserved and dry despite a bit of dust, ready for use, so they didn’t bother moving the wood from the small courtyard.

Qi Quanli still wanted to ask something, but Qi Quanyin quietly reminded him, “Old Six, don’t talk nonsense. Dad must have his reasons for doing this.”

“Fifth Brother, aren’t you curious?”

Qi Quanli rubbed his nose, “I can’t believe you don’t want to know what Dad is up to.”

“Of course, I want to know! But even if you ask now, Dad won’t say, so you might as well be obedient and do what you’re told. We’ll find out soon enough.”

Qi Quanyin was four years older than Qi Quanli. Although curious too, he was able to control it better.

Qi Quanli pouted, feeling unconvinced, but he didn’t say much more.

Qi Zheng took Qi Dafu, Qi Ercai, and Qi Quanjin to the backyard.

The three sons carried brooms and hoes and similar tools.

“Clear all the snow from this area.”

Upon Qi Zheng’s order, despite having many questions, the three sons said nothing and went to work silently.

Shoveling snow in the middle of the night was indeed strange.

After removing the snow, a few withered grasses stuck to the ground were exposed. Then, under Qi Zheng’s instruction, they set up a small bonfire in the open space behind the jujube tree.

As the bonfire was lit, the surrounding temperature increased significantly.

Qi Zheng instructed Qi Quanli, “Old Six, go listen by the courtyard wall to see if there’s any sound from the neighboring house.”

“Huh?”

Qi Quanli was stunned.

What did his dad just ask?

To listen for any sounds from the neighboring house?

Is this like being a thief?

“Hurry up and go!”

Although Qi Zheng’s voice wasn’t loud, it was imposing.

Qi Quanli shrank his neck and quickly went to eavesdrop.

After sending Qi Quanyin to listen at the back door, Qi Zheng and Qi Sangui squatted by the bonfire to warm themselves.

The other three sons continued to shovel snow.

The backyard was quite large, and today was their first day moving in. Everyone thought they’d clean up the backyard later, but unexpectedly, the old man arranged for snow-shoveling in the middle of the night, which was also… peculiar.

Qi Sangui occasionally tossed a thin stick into the bonfire, saying nothing since the old man stayed silent.

After a while, Qi Sangui finally couldn’t help but say, “Dad, I’ll go shovel snow.”

“Stay put!”

Qi Zheng scolded.

Qi Sangui’s butt, which was about to rise, obediently sank back down.

Watching his brothers working while he just sat here keeping the old man company, it didn’t feel right!

Qi Sangui soon scratched his head and ears, his face flushed with anxiety.

He was fine doing chores, but just sitting there watching others work made him uncomfortable to no end.

However, Qi Zheng acted as if he didn’t notice his third son’s discomfort and continued warming by the fire.

No other choice, but the third son’s talk was minimal.

Anyone else accompanying him would have probably bombarded him with questions by now.

Even if he got angry and told them not to, the other person would squint and furrow their brows, looking much more annoying than Qi Sangui’s monkey-like scratching.

Qi Zheng had initially worried that the fire would attract attention from the backyard and the neighboring yard, but it turned out he worried too much.

On such a cold night, when the Qi Family’s yard was brightly lit, no one noticed the glow from the newly started bonfire.

Qi Quanyin and Qi Quanli returned, both saying they heard nothing, so Qi Zheng nodded, took a stick, and poked the ground.

It softened slightly, but not much.

“Old Three, make a fire here.”

Qi Zheng pointed to a spot less than a meter away from the bonfire.

Upon hearing there was work to do, Qi Sangui got up promptly and started sorting out some firewood alongside.

With the second fire lit, Qi Zheng had the fifth son extinguish the fire in front and instructed the youngest son to start digging.

“Dig?”

Qi Quanli’s eyes widened, “Dad, the ground is frozen rock solid, you, you want to dig?”

“Just dig when you’re told to. Why so much talking!”

Qi Zheng frowned, his expression not good.

Although Qi Quanli was usually a bit playful, he wasn’t really foolish. Seeing his father’s look, he knew something big was happening, so he quickly grabbed a hoe and started digging away.

The ground hadn’t thawed much, and after digging down less than the depth of three fists, Qi Quanli couldn’t dig any further.

Qi Quanyin took over to continue, managing to expand the area a bit, but couldn’t dig deeper.

“Old Three, start a fire in the pit.”

Qi Zheng instructed.

Qi Sangui quickly got to work.

After repeatedly lighting and extinguishing fires, finally a large pit over a meter deep was dug out.

To make it easier to dig, the brothers expanded the pit to allow two people to swing hoes simultaneously.

Though not exhausting work, staying up was wearing.

“Dad, should we keep digging?”

Qi Quanli asked, suppressing a yawn.

Everyone was yawning already.

Working wasn’t scary, but being kept up all night was!

“Uhhhh…”

Before Qi Zheng could utter “dig,” a clang was heard.

Qi Sangui’s hoe struck something, the hardness of which far exceeded the solidly frozen ground, numbing his hand.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep