Xu Zeng had instantly fallen in love with the modern variety of books as soon as he received his brother’s mories from that world. There were many books in Donghua but Xu Zeng was never allowed access to them freely after his "dad" passed away.
Sneaking away to read his dad’s hidden old books and practicing writing in secret beca a rebellious activity on his part. Becoming a scholar was never his childhood dream, but learning his brother took and passed the Xuicai exam ignited a new fire in him.
While the two eggs hadn’t even hatched yet, he wanted to share with them all the good things he’d seen in this world and the other.
Despite their dad and papa being a child, their father being a true scholar at the highest level, and him only being literate, he had imrsed himself in books covering diverse topics in the other world.
*child in the scholarly term.
From food and technology to children, cri, business, history, chanics, mathematics, and more intricate technical skills, Xu Zeng absorbed a large amount of knowledge.
However, with just eight months at his disposal and a looming zombie threat, becoming a master in everything was an unattainable achievent.
Xu Zeng had spent his ti buried in books about technology and energy—not the type of energy he knew from his inherited clan mory, but one that was harnessed through the sun and by other ans by the people of the other world.
Much more than business, this topic interested him the most. And the connection of this energy and the energy of cultivation intrigued him.
But what could he do with all that information in this world? He couldn’t even pass it on to his nephews. He hadn’t been thinking clearly. He should have spent his ti learning things that would benefit his family.
Things like wine making, and small and large money making ventures would have been the best use of his free ti...
He lived 16 years in Donghua, and should have thought of making life easier for him and his brother instead of following his curiosities.
"Uncle has many regrets, but you make uncle very happy. I would give up all things to be with you two."
While the two eggs didn’t respond in any way, he knew they understood him. Whether they accepted his affections or not, was unknown, but at least they were aware that not only did the father, papa, and dad love them, so did their uncle.
They were also loved by their Uncle Bai Mo, Uncle Xu Hu Zhe, Aunt Si, Aunt San, Xiao Momo, Xiao An, Uncle Lee (Midwife Lee), Uncle Jie, Uncle Bo, Uncle Min, Uncle Liu...the list went on and on.
They were surrounded by love.
Xu Zeng strolled from the rear of Nanshan estate, away from the scenic area wedged between the gentle embrace of the pond and the boundary wall. Here, beneath the azure skies, away from the busy humdrum of life, he could occasionally indulge in monts of peace.
This picturesque spot devoid of wine cellars, offered a panoramic view of the surrounding beauty. It beca an occasional place to rest, think, and more often than not, evade the watchful eyes of a certain person who followed him too closely.
It was also an easy spot for him to sneak over the seven foot wall when he needed to avoid that certain person tailing him, wanting to accompany him when he went hunting.
He even occasionally hosted Bai Mo under the gazebo. Their encounters were awkward at first...and are still awkward to this day...
Venturing into the heart of the estate, the three courtyards—Blooming, Budding, and Flowering—unfolded with vitality in the distance. Each courtyard hosted two cellars, brimming with the bounty of prepared fruit wines and jams.
The scale of this operation hinted at external assistance, with the villagers of Nanshan actively participating. At the foothills of the mountainous terrain, they beca a workforce, diligently foraging for edible wild fruits, well compensated for the easy work with 5 yuan for every 2 kg of their harvest.
The payout would be slightly less for fruits with lots of seeds. Even hogrown fruit like waterlon and other sweet lons were being accepted—although most who could afford to grow food for pleasure would rather keep it for themselves.
This new lucrative silver earning sche mobilized nearly the entire village to work after the spring harvest and when they weren’t harvesting, sowing, or tending to crops needing extra attention during the harsher sumr months.
The new source of easy inco was so popular, the neighboring villagers wanted a piece of the pie, and secretly began to forage for fruit in nearby mountains.
The start of the Nanshan Mountain range was now exclusive to the Nanshan estate and only allowed the Nanshan villagers to forage here in large groups with weapons for security—this mountain range had many large wild animals.
Stil,l there was an abundance of forests and mountains in the area that were ripe for the picking. There was no need to fight over foraging land when there was currently an abundance. This year was a good year despite the harsh winter.
Now other mountains and forests were being harvested, there was obvious unease stirring among the residents of the village below, but no official complaints reached Nanshan Estate, yet.
Xu Zeng, the orchestrator of this large scaled purchasing, ensured a seamless flow of paynt for the harvested fruits, enlisting the estate’s servants in a constant whirlwind of activity—from estate upkeep to wine and jam processing.
This especially kept Xu Hu Zhe—that one—busy supporting Xu San as they ticulously oversaw the exchange of yuan, and the work of their estate’s servants with Min and Liu. Xu Si, attuned to the estate’s pulse, listened to the whispers both within and beyond their walls.
Martial artists, multitasking through overseeing the guards on duty, aiding Xuan Jian, and even contributing to the repair of the rice paper and wooden beams of Xu Feng’s ancient greenhouse, rallied to hunt ga alongside Xu Zeng.
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