Having grown accustomed to early mornings, Guan Xiaorou woke up after the rooster crowed just twice. Seeing Jin Feng sleeping peacefully beside her, she felt a deep sense of contentment and security. Unable to resist, she nestled closer to him, like a kitten, gently rubbing her face against his chest. After lingering in his embrace for a while, she quietly slipped out of bed to start preparing breakfast.
After the meal, Jin Feng went to town to sell the wild rabbits, exchanging them for thirty pounds of rice and some everyday necessities. Of course, he also bought some snacks like peanuts and dried plums to keep the mischievous village children at bay. Though thirty pounds wasn't particularly heavy, the rugged mountain path made the journey arduous, and the uncomfortable cloth bag didn't help. By the time he returned home, it was already past noon.
Guan Xiaorou, still tender from the previous night, walked with a slight limp, but she busied herself fetching water and wiping sweat for Jin Feng. "Enough, take a rest," Jin Feng said, gently pressing her into a chair. He glanced at her legs and asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Guan Xiaorou blushed and shook her head.
"Lying isn't good, you know," Jin Feng teased, lightly tapping her nose.
"I'm not a child anymore!" she protested.
"Of course not," Jin Feng agreed with a grin. "Last night, you became a proper little wife."
"Husband!" Guan Xiaorou buried her face in his chest, her shyness almost knocking him over.
"Alright, let's see how I'll deal with you!" Jin Feng pulled her into his arms, playfully tickling her. Guan Xiaorou melted into his embrace, her eyes glistening with affection.
Just as the young couple was enjoying their playful moment, an unwelcome voice interrupted them. "Jin Feng, come out!"
Startled, Guan Xiaorou jumped up like she'd been electrocuted. Peeking outside and confirming that the intruder couldn't see them, she let out a relieved sigh, shooting Jin Feng a reproachful glance before hurriedly straightening her clothes.
The two walked into the main room to find Xie Guang, the village troublemaker, swaggering into the yard. His eyes immediately locked onto Guan Xiaorou, who shot him a look of disgust before retreating into the inner room.
"What do you want?" Jin Feng's tone was sharp, his annoyance clear at having his private moment disrupted.
"Your father borrowed ten pounds of wheat from me back in the day. I've been lenient because I felt sorry for you, but now my family has an extra mouth to feed, and we're struggling. It's time to pay up," Xie Guang declared, casually pulling up a stool and sitting in the yard as if he owned the place.
"My father borrowed ten pounds of wheat from you?" Jin Feng laughed incredulously. "Have you even seen ten pounds of wheat in your life?"
Xie Guang was the poorest man in Xihé Village, a notorious gambler who had even sold his bed to fund his addiction. If it weren't for the villagers' pity and their respect for his late father, he would have starved long ago. The idea that he had ten pounds of wheat to lend to Jin Feng's father was absurd—this was clearly a scam.
"Get lost. Don't embarrass yourself here," Jin Feng said, dismissing him with a wave.
"So, you're planning to cheat me out of what's owed?" Xie Guang, a seasoned troublemaker, wasn't about to be brushed off so easily. He glanced toward the gate and began shouting, "Everyone, come and see! Jin Feng refuses to pay his debts!"
A group of women returning from foraging in the mountains happened to be passing by and, hearing Xie Guang's cries, gathered around the low courtyard wall. With his audience in place, Xie Guang sat on the ground and launched into his performance.
"Everyone, listen! Old Jin borrowed ten pounds of wheat from me three years ago…" he wailed, slapping the ground for dramatic effect.
In a village with little entertainment, this was prime gossip. The women's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Do you think Old Jin really borrowed grain from Xie Guang?" one woman whispered.
"Impossible. Xie Guang's the kind who'd borrow from Old Jin, not the other way around," another replied.
"Then why's he here demanding grain?"
"Probably heard Jin Feng sold some rabbits and bought grain. He's here to swindle him."
"Jin Feng shouldn't have flaunted his new wealth. Now he's caught Xie Guang's attention."
"It's not his fault. When he returned from town, Third Auntie insisted on seeing what he'd bought. You know how she is—she can't keep her mouth shut. The whole village knows now."
"Jin Feng's in trouble. Xie Guang's like a leech. He won't leave without getting a few pounds of grain."
The women chattered excitedly, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
"A son must pay his father's debts. That's the rule, Jin Feng. How can you call yourself a scholar if you cheat your father's creditor? Is this what your books taught you?" Xie Guang pointed at Jin Feng, his performance growing more dramatic.
To his credit, Xie Guang was a decent actor. His tone, expressions, and understanding of human psychology were all on point. If Jin Feng were still the naive scholar he once was, he might have been shamed into compliance. But the Jin Feng of today had endured the harsh realities of life since college. Xie Guang's antics were child's play to him.
Seeing Xie Guang's stubborn refusal to leave, Jin Feng smirked and nodded. "You want grain? Fine, I'll give it to you."
Xie Guang's face lit up, but before he could respond, Jin Feng added, "But first, repay the two taels of silver your mother owes me."
"When did my mother borrow silver from you?" Xie Guang was baffled.
"Ten years ago, when she fell ill."
"Ten years ago, you were only eight. Where would you get two taels of silver?"
"You were sixteen when you supposedly had ten pounds of wheat. Why couldn't I have two taels of silver at eight?"
Xie Guang stammered, unable to counter. Outside the courtyard, the women burst into laughter.
"Enough with the act. Either show me proof that my father borrowed grain from you, or get lost," Jin Feng said, pointing to the gate.
"So, you're determined to cheat me, huh?" Xie Guang, realizing he was outmatched, stopped pretending. He stood up and dusted himself off. "Since you're refusing to cooperate, I won't hold back. You'll give me that grain, whether you like it or not!"
"What, are you going to rob me now?" Jin Feng sneered.
In his previous life, Jin Feng had worked as a sparring partner at a boxing gym for two years. Taking countless punches had honed his skills, and even professional boxers struggled against him. A malnourished troublemaker like Xie Guang was no match.
"I'm not robbing you. I'm collecting a debt!" Xie Guang rolled up his sleeves, his face twisted with menace.