Chapter 30: Mr. Xu Who Was Lectured Again

"What idea do you have?" Mrs. Xu asked, looking at Mr. Xu doubtfully.

Mr. Xu chuckled, "Hehe! Dear, the county magistrate was going to award our family a hundred taels of silver. I was afraid that a tall tree would catch the wind, so I asked the county government to use the silver to build roads for the village instead!"

"That's a good thing!"

Mrs. Xu was not a person with shallow vision; she understood what this sudden wealth would have meant for their family. Indeed, It was very good to spend the money in another way.

Thi way, they would earn a good reputation in the eyes of the county magistrate, and the villagers would remember their kindness too.

Although a hundred taels of silver was a lot, but you could always earn them back in the future, and this time around, it would not be so eye-catching.

"How is that a good thing?!" Mr. Xu grimaced. "That's one hundred taels! How long will it take for our family to save up so much silver?"

"What? You're regretting your decision?" Mrs. Xu frowned when she saw Mr. Xu's expression, "Dear, you can't lose yourself in the sight of money. If we take that silver, it'll become a hot potato in our hands!"

"I know!" Mr. Xu said reluctantly, "So, I was wondering if I could use another way to earn that money back!"

"Do you have a way?" Mrs. Xu asked, fixing her eyes on Mr. Xu.

Mr. Xu grinned, whispering back, "Didn't we go into the mountains today to find wood to build a house? When we came back, the pheasant flew directly at me as if it was blind, and the rabbit hit its head on the stump. It's a shame you weren't there to see it! And, oh yes, there was also that wild ginseng. Second son found it just by falling! Our family is very lucky, aren't we? Maybe, starting tomorrow, I will bring our eldest two sons into the mountain every day. What do you think?"

"Forget it!" Mrs. Xu didn't even put much thought into the plan, slapping her hand on the edge of the bed. 

"Dear, you are dizzy with money! In our lifetime, the blessings we receive are limited. Although there is good luck in our family now, if we were to squander it like this, how long could it last? Furthermore, what would others think if the three of you have a harvest every time you go into the mountains? A tall tree catches the wind! Are you stupid?!"

Mrs. Xu didn't show any mercy to Mr. Xu at all, showering him with her nagging words.

"Dear, let me tell you something. Starting tomorrow, you and your sons are not allowed to go anywhere except to cut firewood in the mountain! The third child will go for the exam again next year, so we have to save up the blessings for him! I'm talking to you! Do you hear me?"

"I heard it, I heard it!"

Mr. Xu felt like he had been wronged. Wasn't he just trying to take advantage of their present good luck and gather more money for the family? What did she mean by saying the blessings in one's life were limited?

However, in the face of his temperamental wife, Mr. Xu could only listen obediently.

The sky and the earth were big, but pregnant women were the biggest.

At this moment, even when bickering with his old wife, Mr. Xu had to think twice, lest he anger her.

　　...

There were no more words that night.

Early the next morning, Mr. Xu slept until the sun was well up.

The old man, who had just been lectured yesterday, now decisively started a leisurely old man's life.

Cut firewood? Not interested.

Both of his sons were so big now; was it difficult for them to gather some firewood for the winter?

However, it was not that easy for Mr. Xu to be idle.

When it was time for lunch, Guan Laoqi, the village head, ran to the Xu residence.