Chapter 23: The Eldest Household Has Truly Changed

This action once again shocked the villagers of Futian Village. How did the eldest branch of the Fang family, who used to be stingy and only ever took advantage of others, suddenly become so generous?

"You all need to rest well during this time. Especially Uncle Dashi, keep your wound away from water; otherwise, if it gets infected, it could be fatal!" Fang Ning said with a serious little face.

"Infection... what is that?"

"It means the wound becomes festered."

"Oh, I see. I'll remember that."

"Take that silver and focus on recovering. There’s nothing else to do now, you should all head back."

"Ningning, thank you all so much." Tie Zhu and Dashi were genuinely grateful to the Fang family. Perhaps it was truly their own disdain for Fang Laoda in the past that had driven him to be such a scoundrel. From now on, they could try to trust the eldest branch of the Fang family.

Seeing that everyone was fine, the villagers felt relieved. Someone asked Fang Ning, "Ningning, what are you doing with so many of these sour fruits?"

"They’re useful. Oh, that’s right, if you have free time, you can also pick these bayberries. I’ll buy them for four copper coins a catty."

Earning a one-coin margin was decent enough. The villagers gasped in surprise.

"Ningning, are you serious?"

"Of course. I’ll take as many as you can bring. However, I do have requirements: they cannot be crushed, you must not cut down the trees to pick them, and I don’t want any rotten fruit from the ground."

"Ningning, if we really pick them, you won't go back on your word, will you?"

"Absolutely not!" Fang Ning raised her little chubby hand. "I swear."

"Enough, why are you swearing? Believe it or not, that's up to them." Grandma Fang was furious and began acting protective. "Haven't you all seen the change in my eldest son? Is it right to make a child swear?"

"Aunt Fang, we apologize. We were just burned by Fang Laoda before, so we’re a bit cautious. Rest assured, if this turns out to be true, we promise never to doubt them like this again."

"Go on, go on. We have things to discuss. Do whatever you want, just leave now."

The villagers didn't mind Grandma Fang's attitude. After all, Old Man Fang had just walked through the gates of hell; everyone understood her mood.

"We’ll be going then. We’ll start picking those bayberries tomorrow."

"Remember, don't damage the trees, or it will affect next year's harvest!"

"Got it!"

Perhaps because Fang Ning had suddenly pointed out a way to make money, everyone left with smiles. Grandma Fang, who had been holding it together since Old Man Fang’s accident, suddenly relaxed, and her vision went black as she fainted. The old Fang residence was in chaos once more, though fortunately, it was nothing serious.

Old Man Fang woke up shortly after. He felt dizzy, and any movement made him want to vomit.

"Dad, don't move, just lie still." Fang Cinian held him down. "You need to stay in bed and rest for a while."

"I'm fine." Old Man Fang, who had been headstrong his whole life, struggled to get up, only to immediately retch.

Fang Cinian quickly helped him lie back down. "Dad, you hit your head; you shouldn't be moving around. Just lie still, or you'll be the one suffering."

"Will I be like this forever?"

"No, just rest for a while and take your medicine, and you'll be fine." Old Man Fang had a concussion and needed to lie down for at least half a month.

"Did those people from Xu Village come back to cause trouble?"

"No, no. Old man, stop talking. The eldest said you need quiet rest. Our Ningning is so capable! She didn't just force those cutthroats from Xu Village to pay for the medicine; she even made them kowtow and apologize."

"Really?" Old Man Fang was so excited he retched again.

Hearing the noise, Fang Ning ran in. "Grandpa, just rest properly. It’s so uncomfortable to be dizzy and nauseous. Don't worry, I’ve already settled the score for you. From now on, anyone from Xu Village will have to dodge us when they see us!"

Old Man Fang felt like he was dreaming. His eldest son now possessed medical skills, his daughter-in-law’s cooking had improved, and even his unruly grandchild had accomplished such unbelievable things.

"Grandpa, rest up. From now on, our eldest branch won't give you any more trouble." Fang Ning gently touched Old Man Fang’s wound and leaned in to blow on it. "I’ll blow on it for you, Grandpa, and then it won't hurt anymore."

Fang Ning despised herself for acting so childish, but the elderly couple, despite their sharp tongues, truly doted on their "grandchild." Fang Ning’s sweetness brought great comfort to Old Man Fang.

"Alright, I’ll listen to you this once, Grandpa."

"And Grandpa, wait for me to make a lot of money so I can build you a big house."

"Alright." Old Man Fang smiled. A big house didn't matter; what mattered was that his eldest son’s family was no longer acting like scoundrels—that was better than anything else.

After coaxing Old Man Fang, Fang Ning went outside to weigh the bayberries for Fang Fei and the others. Aside from Fang Yu, Fang Ning paid everyone else.

Fang Yu protested, "Didn't the eldest sister lose? Why are you paying her?"

"I like my eldest sister, can't I pay her? She never agreed to the bet anyway."

"You're cheating!"

"Second Brother, this was your suggested bet. You wouldn't want to be a person who doesn't keep their word, would you?"

Fang Yu was indignant, wanting to cry but not daring to.

"Second Brother, no matter how many bayberries you pick this year, I won't pay you. That way, you'll know how miserable gambling can make you! Even if my dad was a scoundrel before, he never gambled!"

"Hey, hey, hey, Ningning, don't talk nonsense. When was your dad a scoundrel?" Fang Cinian quickly defended himself. The original owner was the scoundrel; he was a good doctor!

"Yu, do you know why Ningning insists on this? It's because she knows gambling is bad, and since you proposed this bet, she wants you to remember this lesson firmly so you won't dare to gamble again in the future."

Fang Yu lowered his head, not daring to speak. He had indeed intended to use his age and agility to win all their money, but he hadn't expected this result. With his child-like intentions exposed, he turned and ran into the room.

Fang Hong quickly promised, "Ningning, Third Brother will listen to everything you say. Please don't dock my copper coins, okay?"

"Of course not, Third Brother is the best."

"Fourth Sister, what about me?" Fang Fei raised her hand.

"Fifth Sister is a good girl, Fourth Sister won't dock yours either."

"Then next time, I'll have my mom buy you some candied hawthorns." After saying that, Fang Fei ran back to her room and handed her fifty copper coins to Madam Chen.

"Mom, this is what I earned today."

Madam Chen’s heart warmed. She found a small wooden box and put the fifty coins inside. "Mom doesn't need them, but I'll keep them for you. When you grow up a bit more, I'll give them back to you."

The realization of the eldest brother and sister-in-law could truly lead the family to a better life!

Fang Ning weighed the bayberries for the second and third branches and paid them immediately. Madam Zhao refused to take them. "We haven't sold them yet, why give them to me?"

"Second Aunt, take them so you can feel at ease. This really is a way to make money," Fang Ning insisted.

Seeing this, Fang Wenqin said, "If Ningning gives them to you, just take them."

Madam Zhao then accepted them, and Madam Chen did not decline either. Having the coins in their hands made them feel secure.

Since Fang Cinian needed to go to town to buy herbs like gastrodia and chuanxiong, he, his two brothers, Fang Ning, and Liang Anrong headed to town together.

Si Yuheng, who had been completely ignored as a mere tool, thought to himself, "..."