Chapter 20: Foolish Second Uncle

Xiao Tie Niu spoke warily, “Why are you asking about that? It’s kept safe at home. What do you want it for? You’re not thinking of buying more meat again, are you?”

“Oh, Grandpa, do I look like someone who’s always craving meat? Just give it to me first, let me hold onto it for a while.”

“Fine, then go find your grandma and ask her to give you the lockbox. Make sure you don’t peek inside, though,” Xiao Tie Niu added, still on guard.

“Grandpa, don’t you trust me?” With that, he went to find his grandmother and explained his request all over again.

His grandmother replied, “You’d better take good care of it—these are my dowries, after all.”

With that, Xiao Weiguo carried the lockbox off to a secluded spot.

He slipped into his private space, closed his eyes, and used his mind to inspect the contents of the box.

Unexpectedly, there was quite a trove of valuables: two gold bracelets, a set each of gold rings and gold earrings, a jade bangle, a Guanyin pendant, a dozen or so silver dollars, and three or four sets of silver jewelry.

Looking at all these treasures, Xiao Weiguo felt a surge of excitement. Who would have thought that in such a shabby-looking home, there’d be such a hidden cache? In truth, it was all thanks to his grandmother Zhao Xiuxian. Once a well-to-do young lady, even a small bit of her dowry added up to this much. If misfortune hadn’t struck, how could she have married a rough man like Xiao Tie Niu?

When he saw the jade pieces, Xiao Weiguo suddenly remembered that his space required spiritual energy. Of all things in the world, jade was renowned for possessing such energy. People always said jade had a spirit—it could nurture a person.

Without hesitation, Xiao Weiguo took a small jade ring from the box, walked to the altar in his space, and placed the ring in the vessel on the offering table.

He bowed three times. In an instant, a flash of white light passed, and the jade ring vanished without a trace.

Xiao Weiguo hurried forward to check, his heart pounding with excitement, but soon anxiety crept in. How would he explain this? On top of that, jade was expensive. If he had to keep offering jade long-term, it would require a lot of money.

He then turned his attention to the changes in his space. After consuming the jade ring, there must be some difference. He noticed the land looked darker, richer than before, but apart from that, there wasn’t much change.

He reasoned to himself that perhaps the offering was too little; next time, he’d try providing a larger quantity of jade and see what would happen.

As for his grandmother’s remaining dowry, he’d better leave it untouched; otherwise, his grandfather might really beat him.

Leaving the space, he returned home, but his grandfather was nowhere to be seen.

“Grandma, where’s Grandpa gone?” he asked.

“He said he was going to visit his second and third sons. He left in a hurry just now,” she replied.

Xiao Weiguo understood—since he’d sparked the idea in his grandfather’s mind, the old man had probably gone to consult his father and second uncle.

He didn’t dwell on it. After eating the lunch his grandmother had set aside, he went back to his room to nap. The heat was oppressive, and as he lay on the bamboo mat, sweat kept beading on his body.

He simply took off his shirt, exposing his ribby chest, and fanned himself, eyes closed, pondering his current situation.

The most urgent task now was to leave the countryside. He’d take advantage of the mass recruitment drive to move into the city.

For now, he’d join everyone for meals at the communal canteen. During this period, he could at least rebuild his strength—the food was said to be quite good at first.

His physical condition was truly poor, practically skin and bones. He resolved to gain at least twenty pounds in the coming weeks.

After his nap, Xiao Weiguo stretched and headed outside. He ran into Uncle Dashan, who was chatting with a group of villagers by the roadside.

Xiao Weiguo joined them.

“Have you heard…” Uncle Dashan began, addressing the group.

“What’s all this about?” Xiao Weiguo interrupted. “Uncle Dashan, who told you that? It’s too far-fetched to believe!”

“I heard it from your second uncle, Weiguo,” Uncle Dashan replied, squeezing in an answer.

Xiao Weiguo was speechless and cursed inwardly: always making a mess, never doing any good. It was fine for the family to prepare quietly, but now the whole village knew—what a disaster. Though, in the end, it all started with him. Maybe he was the one who set this in motion.

Suddenly, the sound of gongs rang out from every main street in the village, followed by a loud announcement: “Everyone in the village, listen up—everyone is to gather at the threshing ground. There is an important announcement. I repeat…”

Hearing this, Xiao Weiguo turned his head, feeling a wave of regret. If only his grandfather had kept quiet. And as for his second uncle, there was only one word: foolish.

He went back inside to help his grandmother to the threshing ground. The announcement had made it clear—everyone was to attend, even the elderly women with bound feet.

But Xiao Weiguo didn’t hurry. First, he slipped into the kitchen.

Only then did he return to assist his grandmother toward the gathering.

When they arrived, Xiao Gonglin stood before the assembled villagers and announced, “This afternoon, some wild rumors have been spreading. I’m here to clarify—nothing of the sort is going to happen, so everyone can rest easy.

“I have good news, too. Our brigade’s communal canteen is now open! From now on, everyone can eat there—breakfast will be soy milk and fried dough sticks, lunch will be white rice, and dinner, eight-treasure porridge.

“We guarantee you’ll eat your fill—and eat well!”

While speaking, he shot a fierce glare at Xiao Pingxi.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Pingxi retorted, “Why are you glaring at me? It wasn’t me who spread it—it was the old man at home. Go ask him.”