Chapter 279: Convincing Heng’er

With a few people working together, washing the cart didn’t take long at all.

Yan Yu chatted away animatedly as she worked, weaving a lively tale. She took the same speech she’d used to persuade Big Brother, trimmed it here and there, and repurposed it to convince Sister Daya.

Yan Lao’er just chuckled and let her be. Watching his daughter so full of energy, her little mouth chattering non-stop, it was no wonder people found her so endearing.

Yan Xiangheng turned to him and asked, “Uncle, why don’t we let the girls head back first? You and I can wash up by the river.”

The villagers had a silent understanding—there was a stretch of riverbank set aside where the men would go to wash off after a long day of work.

“Xiao Er, take your Eldest Sister and head home. Heng’er and I will be back in a bit,” Yan Lao’er said.

Yan Yu responded with a cheerful “Okay!” Then, hand in hand with Eldest Sister Daya, she strolled home at a leisurely pace.

As for what her father and Big Brother were up to—did she even need to ask? She’d already seen what Big Brother had brought with him.

Uncle and nephew made their way downstream, toward the reed-covered shallows.

This spot was far from where villagers usually fetched water or cast their nets, and the thick reeds provided good cover. It was the perfect place to bathe.

The river water had been warmed by the sun all day. It wasn’t too cold, and after a full day of activity, the temperature felt just right for scrubbing off the grime.

Yan Lao’er had fully embraced his role as an uncle.

“Heng’er, turn around. Let me scrub your back.”

Yan Xiangheng blushed slightly but obediently turned away.

He could feel his uncle working up a lather with scented soap on a cloth, then scrubbing his back with firm strokes.

Yan Lao’er, true to form, couldn’t keep his mouth shut and kept chatting away.

“Now that Crouching Tiger is unsealed, our villagers can finally catch a break. No more trekking into the mountains every day.

Tomorrow, you should go play with Xiao Er and the others. Don’t underestimate that bunch of kids—they may run around like lunatics, but they’re tough as nails. They can eat, they can work.”

“Uncle, I know. If Xiao Er and the others start training again, I’ll join them too.

But Uncle, what about all those herbs we haven’t processed yet? We already recorded Work Points for the villagers.”

Yan Xiangheng looked a bit worried.

“We still have Gufeng, don’t we? I’ll make a trip over there and see if we can sell the herbs,” Yan Lao’er said, clearly having thought this through already.

“And we can keep some for ourselves too. Some herbs store well. Every household dug a cellar, right? When winter comes and people start getting colds or headaches, we’ll be glad to have them.

Then there’s those few families in Da’an Village. They’re real kin, and we’ve got to lend a hand. Food and supplies are one thing, but nothing beats medicine. If I can think of it, so can they. When the time comes, we’ll let them know—Work Points don’t have to be exchanged for silver. Herbs work too.

We dug those herbs ourselves, so we’ll use them however’s most convenient.”

“Uncle, you really think of everything,” Yan Xiangheng said admiringly.

“Haha! What’s there to it? You think the Village Elders haven’t thought of all this? Those old men just keep quiet until they’ve weighed everything carefully. They were waiting—for me or your father to come back.

Sigh, everything they do, they put our family first… Heng’er, your uncle’s under a lot of pressure too, you know. I keep worrying I’ll mess something up.”

Yan Xiangheng wanted to say, “Uncle, you’re already doing great,” but before he could, Yan Lao’er slapped the cloth onto his shoulder.

“Come on, Heng’er. Your turn. Scrub my back. Put some muscle into it, I’m not as spry as I used to be.”

Yan Lao’er turned around naturally, exposing his back to his eldest nephew.

Yan Xiangheng: …

The words caught in his throat and never made it out.

He grabbed the cloth with both hands and started scrubbing his uncle’s back with firm strokes.

Yan Lao’er still didn’t stop talking. “The whole village is watching our family. Not that they’re relying on us exactly, but… they see us as their anchor.

So Heng’er, you’ve really got to focus on next year’s County Examination. Study hard, do your best! Let’s aim to pass all three rounds in one go and bring home a Xiu Cai title. Then our family will have two scholars under one roof, haha!

And if your father passes the Juren exam next fall—oh boy, the whole village will be grinning so hard their faces cramp!”

He laughed heartily for a while, then added, “Our relationship with the villagers… it’s not just kinship. It’s something deeper.”

Yan Xiangheng noticed a subtle shift in his uncle’s tone.

“This whole village—these people may not be worldly, and they’re not great with words, but when it really matters, they show up.

Back when we were still at home, your father said he wanted to take the whole village with us. At the time, I didn’t quite get it. But after everything we’ve been through on the road… tell me, aren’t our villagers amazing?

They never complained, never slacked off. They just followed us with everything they had. Whatever we said, they did. When it was time to work, they put their heads down and got it done. When we ran into danger, they were the first to charge ahead.

Remember when we got ambushed on that barren stretch of land? That was close.

So many enemies, all on horseback, waving blades, with faces full of malice. They were ready to kill us.

Even now, when I think back on it, I still feel scared.

But we made it through because we were united.

And because of your father—my big brother. He held it all together.”

“Dad’s a natural leader. But Uncle, you’re amazing too,” Yan Xiangheng said.

Yan Lao’er shook his head. “I’m nothing compared to your father.

I’m not ambitious. All I want is for our family to live peacefully. You and your dad can focus on your studies and aim for official posts.

I’ll stay home, farm the land, run a small business.

As long as we can save a little money and never worry about food or clothes, that’s good enough for me.

The village is tight-knit, everyone knows each other. It’s a safe place to live.

Your dad came back the other day and told me to enroll in the county school. What a joke! I know my own limits. Studying’s not for me. Our family’s future rests on your father and you.”

“Heng’er, your father wants me to attend the county academy. I get it—he looks down on me for being such a slacker. But I’m really not like you guys. My brain just doesn’t work that way. I can’t make sense of books no matter how hard I try.”

“Don’t overthink it. It’s not like your father has any hidden motives.”

“He just thinks you’re doing well in your studies and that you’ll have no problem passing next year’s exam.”

“But I appreciate the thought. Really, I do.”

“I know my own limits. That spot at the county academy should go to you.”

“If the Yan family is ever going to bring honor to our ancestors, it’ll be thanks to you and your father!”

Yan Lao’er had gone in circles for a while, but he finally got to the heart of what he wanted to say.

The county academy? Let Heng’er enjoy that.

He wasn’t going!

Yan Xiangheng said, “Uncle, Father already talked to me. I think he’s right. I can just study at home. No need to make a trip to the county academy. But you, Uncle—it’d be such a waste if you didn’t pick up your books again.”

He spoke honestly. “In Guanzhou… Uncle, earning a Xiucai title isn’t that hard.”

Even his eldest nephew knew how bad the academic standards in Guanzhou had gotten?

Yan Lao’er was speechless.

Looks like today, he had no choice but to convince him.

Since there was no budging Old Yan, inspiration had struck from his own daughter instead.

Time for a roundabout strategy!

If he could convince the eldest nephew, that would do the trick!

“Heng’er, listen to your uncle. When your father comes back, I’ll talk to him. That county academy spot should be yours. I’ll focus on making money—earn more, so I can support the family and let everyone live comfortably.”

“You two just focus on your studies. If you make something of yourselves one day, I’ll be able to bask in your glory too, won’t I?”

Seeing how determined his uncle was, Yan Xiangheng didn’t quite know what to say.

He gave a vague nod.

Yan Lao’er was overjoyed. Right then and there, he performed a dramatic “White Stripe in the Waves” dive for his eldest nephew, rolling and tumbling with flair!

(End of Chapter)