Chapter 18: If You Act Up, I'll Strip You Bare and Parade You Around the Village

Liang Anrong shot him a sharp glance, then meticulously counted out ten copper coins from Fang Ning’s hand. “Here’s yours.”

Fang Cinian was speechless.

“Too much?” Liang Anrong raised an eyebrow.

“No, no, don’t misunderstand, wife,” Fang Cinian hurriedly pocketed the coins.

Even the smallest mosquito is still meat.

He dared not complain; otherwise, he wouldn't get even ten copper coins.

With some silver in hand, Fang Ning indulged in using an oil lamp.

However, the oil lamp produced a lot of smoke and odor, and its light was dim. Fang Ning found herself especially nostalgic for the electric lights of her previous life.

The day passed just like that.

The next morning.

Before Fang Ning had even gotten out of bed, visitors arrived at the old manor.

She glanced out the window—it was just after dawn. They were really early.

Fang Yu and Fang Hong, the two brothers, barged into her room, roughly pulling her out from under the covers.

“If you don’t get up now, the sun will be shining on your backside!”

“We’re going to make a big profit today!”

Fang Ning: “...If I just turn over, the sun won’t reach me. Humph.”

Luckily, they were only about ten years old. If they were any older, she wouldn’t hesitate to give them a good smack!

To get an early start on the mountain, Mrs. Zhao and Mrs. Chen even prepared breakfast for the main branch to take along. After eating, the whole group set off up the mountain in a grand procession.

The early-rising villagers were stunned.

When did the old manor get so close with the main branch again?

They whispered among themselves:

“The main branch of the Fang family must be digging some pit for the old manor again. This whole family just doesn’t do anything decent!”

“The Fangs really aren’t afraid of death. They trust the main branch so much they’d risk losing even the old couple’s coffin money.”

“Who knows? Anyway, we’d better keep our distance from the Fang head. We don’t want to get caught in their schemes asking us for silver. They always show their true colors within days.”

...

Fang Ning, sharp-eared, heard these words and simply remained silent.

Well, there’s always time ahead; she could change their narrow-minded impressions.

Arriving at the back mountain, Fang Yu and Fang Hong slung baskets over their shoulders and scampered up the trees like monkeys.

“Be careful,” Mrs. Zhao reminded, “Don’t fall.”

“I won’t, Mom. I’m definitely going to pick the most today,” Fang Hong said confidently.

“We’re not expecting you to pick much; safety is what matters.”

“Got it, Mom. You’re so naggy.”

“You’re such a kid...”

“Second sister-in-law, that’s enough. Don’t treat them like children,” Liang Anrong interrupted Mrs. Zhao. “When we pick waxberries, we can’t damage the trees, or it’ll affect next year’s fruit.”

“Understood, sister-in-law.”

“Pick the waxberries one by one, then layer them with leaves in the basket so they won’t get crushed.”

“Got it.”

Since they were all villagers, no one had trouble climbing trees.

Laughter and chatter filled the mountain; their voices echoed everywhere.

Fang Yu and Fang Hong were the most excited, climbing to the highest branches to hang their baskets.

“Dare to bet who fills their basket first?” Fang Yu challenged Fang Ning and the others. “Loser gives the winner one copper coin!”

Fang Ning raised an eyebrow. Though a copper coin wasn’t much, big bets often started small. She wanted to curb Fang Yu’s unhealthy gambling habits.

“One copper coin is too little. How about this: the loser gives all the money earned from picking waxberries this year to the winner. Second brother, do you dare?”

“Going all in?”

“That’s more exciting!”

Fang Cinian knew what kind of person Fang Ning was and didn’t stop them. Fang Wenqin and his brother didn’t think much of it either. Mrs. Zhao was busy and didn’t notice the children’s conversation.

Only Mrs. Chen frowned, speaking up: “Fang Yu, don’t fool around. Gambling is for children?”

Liang Anrong replied, “Hah, they’re just playing. Third sister-in-law, don’t mind them.”

She knew Fang Ning was trying to discipline Fang Yu; by scaring him, he wouldn’t dare gamble recklessly in the future!

“Then don’t cry,” Fang Yu boasted. “Fang Ning, your waxberries this year are definitely wasted. Big sister, third brother, fifth sister, are you coming?”

“We’re in. The first two count as winners.”

Fang Ning answered for them.

Fang Ling didn’t even have a chance to refuse.

“Ready?” Fang Yu seemed to already see copper coins waving at him.

As the eldest boy in the Fang family, was he afraid of them?

Fang Ning said meaningfully, “Second brother, one promise. If you back out, I’ll strip you naked and parade you through the village!”

“You won’t get that chance. Let’s start!”

Fang Yu, confident in his position with many waxberries, believed he would win without question.

“Second brother, I definitely won’t lose to you,” Fang Hong snorted.

Fang Yu ignored them.

Fang Ling and Fang Fei quickened their pace to avoid losing copper coins.

But no matter how fast they were, they couldn’t beat Fang Ning, a former special forces soldier.

Fang Ning could beat Fang Yu with her eyes closed.

Before Fang Yu’s basket was half full, Fang Ning had already climbed down with a smile, holding up a basket brimming with waxberries. “Second brother, I’m first.”

“You cheated!”

Fang Yu couldn’t believe Fang Ning, who was two years younger, was so fast.

“Are you afraid to lose?”

“You... who’s afraid of losing? First place or not, second place is definitely mine.”

“Not necessarily.”

Fang Ning smiled and climbed the tree again, picking up Fang Fei’s basket.

“Fourth brother, what are you doing?”

“Of course, helping you beat your brother.”

“Fang Ning, you’re cheating!”

“You can ask big sister and third brother to help you too.”

“No,” Fang Hong and Fang Ling said in unison.

Fang Yu: “...”

He exerted all his strength but was still a step slower than Fang Ning.

“Second brother, all the copper coins, okay?”

Fang Ning smugly pointed at the basket in front of Fang Fei.

Fang Yu bit his lip; tears welled up in his eyes.

Fang Wenchang and Mrs. Chen exchanged a glance, pretending not to notice.

“Fang Ning, you’re bullying me...” Fang Yu pouted and burst into tears.

The adults: “...”

Fang Ling rolled her eyes. “I lost and I didn’t cry. Why are you crying? You were the one who suggested gambling; now you regret it? Are you still a man?”

“I didn’t have to lose... sob, sob, Fang Ning helped Fei cheat...”

Fang Yu cried heartbrokenly.

“What’s there to cry about? You just didn’t try hard enough,” Fang Wenchang grumbled.

He deserved a proper reprimand to prevent him from gambling so easily in the future. Let him be afraid to gamble again!

Fang Yu continued to cry bitterly.

He had already planned what to buy with the coins he thought he’d earn. Now, before even touching them, they were all gone.

Fang Ning showed no mercy. “If you cry like that, you’re going to cheat, huh? Fine, I’ll strip you naked and make you walk through the village.”

“I’m not cheating! Can’t I just cry for my copper coins? You’re too mean!”

“Anyway, I don’t care. The coins you earn from picking waxberries this year belong to me.”

“Waaah...”

Fang Yu’s crying echoed through the whole back mountain.

Fang Cinian and the others couldn’t help but chuckle.

But no one came to Fang Yu’s aid.

In the end, Fang Yu found crying pointless, wiped his tears, and climbed the tree to pick waxberries again.

Fang Ning winked at Fang Ling and the others.

Fang Ling immediately understood.

Thus, the poor Fang Yu, who lost all his copper coins for the year, didn’t even have a single person to comfort him on the way down.

Just as the group reached the foot of the mountain, they heard Jiang Sanjiao running urgently from behind, shouting, “Fang head, Fang head, something’s happened!”