He started by killing his abusive father, and from then on, he embarked on the road to wealth.

Chapter 40 Meng Ranran's Little Thoughts

As soon as the mule cart crossed the river, Meng Fuqing spotted a person standing under a tree at the village entrance, pacing back and forth as if he were cold.

It's Saitama.

She looked at the figure, lowered her eyes, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.

The world she grew up in hadn't given her any sense of belonging, but this world did. She suspected it was the original owner's emotions at play, but she had no proof.

"Qingqing...is that you, Qingqing?" Shan Qiyu called out uncertainly.

"Mother, it's me. I bought a mule cart."

Meng Fuqing got off the cart and was bitten again by the mule as he passed by. After it let go, the mule seemed dissatisfied and even made a couple of loud "ah ah" sounds.

It sounded so awful that she wanted to abuse animals.

Just wait, she'll teach it a lesson sooner or later.

Shan Qiyu had already walked up to Meng Fuqing and touched her cheek. "Are you cold?"

"It's alright, not too cold. Let's go home."

On the way home, Shan Qiyu kept saying, "Why are you back so late? I was so worried about you. Luckily, I ran into the village chief and the others. They said you'd be back soon, so I'm relieved."

"Oh, right, the village chief also brought back a few people. One of them is quite ill and came to see Doctor Zheng."

Meng Fuqing then spoke, "Mother, it's enough that we know about this; don't tell anyone else."

Dan Qiyu was taken aback for a moment, then agreed without thinking.

Once home, adults and children alike pitched in to carry everything from the car into the house.

"Why did you buy so much stuff again?"

Shan Qiyu was extremely surprised; she thought the last batch she bought would be enough for them to eat for a long time.

"It's winter anyway, so I'll just buy it and leave it for now. Do you cook at home?"

Meng Ranran immediately said, "I'll cook it for you, sister. Mother told us to wait for you to come back so we can eat together."

Meng Ali also said, "There's steamed meat! Mom also made mutton buns with white bread, they're so delicious!"

Meng Fuqing: "I also bought some food from the restaurants in the county. Let's try what the people in the county eat."

She handed the food box to Meng Ranran and then asked Meng Ali, "Ali, would you like to help your second sister heat up the food?"

Meng Ali immediately raised her hand in agreement.

After the two children went to the kitchen, the mother and daughter took the chickens and ducks out of the cage, and then took out some bran, mixed it with water, and fed it to them.

The listless chickens and ducks immediately began to fight over the food, and the mule, perhaps also hungry, kept braying. The once quiet courtyard was more lively than ever before.

Dan Qiyu counted them and found there were two roosters and seven hens in total. If they were kept in a pen, they wouldn't even need to buy eggs.

Meng Fuqing called out "Mother," and said, "I went to the county town today and heard some things from the village chief and Doctor Zheng. I feel that things might not be very peaceful in the future. We are close to the border, and if a war really breaks out, I don't know what it will be like. I bought so many things to prepare for the future."

After the initial shock subsided, Shan Qiyu sighed, "No wonder the village chief brought back so much stuff today. Life is so hard, wouldn't it be better to just live peacefully?"

She felt down for a moment, but then she cheered herself up. Compared to when Meng Shaoyuan was still alive and she had no way out, things couldn't be better now.

No matter what happens, as long as she is with the children, she will not be afraid.

Meng Fuqing, unaware of Shan Qiyu's change in mood, casually offered a word of comfort: "Everything is still uncertain. What if the imperial court has a solution? Don't worry too much too soon."

She went into the house and opened the burlap sack filled with down feathers. "Mother, you can stuff these goose down feathers into your winter clothes, just like you would stuff cotton. They'll make very warm clothes."

Shan Qiyu pinched a small tuft of goose down, looking surprised. "How come I've never heard of anyone using this to make winter clothes?"

Meng Fuqing whispered, "It was the Fairy Goddess who told me."

The fairy goddess was incredibly powerful, and Shan Qiyu immediately became completely convinced.

Seeing that she didn't ask any more questions, Meng Fuqing continued, "Winter clothes made of goose down are very light, but they are not easy to make. You have to divide the clothes into small pieces and stuff the goose down into them. Otherwise, they will pile up together."

Shan Qiyu was very good at this, and immediately said, "Mother knows, it's like sewing a quilt, you have to keep the cotton from falling out. Mother will try it tomorrow."

"Mom, this is just for wearing next to the body, it won't affect what you wear outside."

Shan Qiyu thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She patted Meng Fuqing's head and said, "Qingqing is so smart."

Meng Fuqing found the basket and wanted to give the remaining money from selling medicinal herbs to Shan Qiyu, but Shan Qiyu stopped him.

"Take this money, Mother has plenty more." Shan Qiyu felt a little ashamed. She was the mother, but she was not as capable as her eldest daughter.

Meng Fuqing did not refuse and took the basket containing the silver into his own room.

Even after being reheated, the food at the county restaurant was still delicious and visually appealing. Clams were something that had never been seen before in this small northern town, which whetted the appetites and broadened the horizons of the family of four who had never eaten restaurant food before.

After finishing his meal, Meng Ali rubbed his belly, squinted his eyes, and burped repeatedly.

Meng Ranran's smile never faded; every time she felt she couldn't be happier, her older sister would bring back even more and better things.

While she was enjoying herself, she saw her older sister walk up to her and called out happily, "Sister, you were looking for me?"

Meng Fuqing sat down in front of her and nodded. "I have something to tell you."

Seeing her older sister's serious expression, Meng Ranran also sat up straight, her little face tense as she listened attentively.

"Dr. Zheng wants to take on an apprentice, and my sister wants you to learn medicine from him. What do you think?"

Meng Ranran's eyes slowly widened, and she nervously clenched her small hands: "Ranran, Ranran thought of this, but sister, will Doctor Zheng accept me? I heard that he didn't even like the village chief's brother before..."

She didn't know how much suffering she would suffer in the future if she had a skill. She just thought Dr. Zheng was amazing. He could earn money and wouldn't be bullied. Everyone in the village respected him. If she could become like him, she could protect her family like her sister.

"Of course, we'll have to wait until he's seen you before deciding whether to take you in. I'll take you tomorrow. Don't be nervous, I'll put in a good word for you."

Meng Ranran nodded nervously, wishing the sky would suddenly brighten.

Suddenly, she looked up at Meng Fuqing and said, "Sister, if Doctor Zheng doesn't accept me, I'll go to his house to help him every day, and I'll make him accept me!"

Her expression was very firm, as if she were making a vow, and she was quite solemn.

Meng Fuqing smiled and praised her, "With such awareness, you will succeed in anything you do."

Meng Ranran's face turned rosy again.

After listening to the whole thing, Meng Ali drooped her little head, picked at her fingers, and said with great melancholy, "My two older sisters both have things to do, what can I do at such a young age?"

The two older sisters heard this and both looked at him.

Meng Ranran glanced at Meng Fuqing in a panic. She knew that whether they were craftsmen, carpenters, doctors, or hunters, they were all men, and they would only take on male apprentices. She was worried that her older sister would change her mind and send Ali to see Doctor Zheng if she heard this.

Moreover, Ah Li has a good memory, so she's definitely better at reading medical books and memorizing medicinal herbs than her. Apart from having eaten a lot recently and becoming stronger, Ah Li's memory is nowhere near as good as hers.

If her younger brother also wanted to become Dr. Zheng's apprentice, she could give him the opportunity, but she wanted Dr. Zheng to take a look at her first.

Meng Ranran secretly clenched her little fists, puffed out her cheeks, and cheered herself up. She was determined to give it a try.