The moment Song Xian put the fish in the pan, the burst of savory and sweet aroma instantly made everyone forget about Young Master Yu.
Pan-frying fish is a skillful art.
To achieve a good presentation, it’s important to prevent the fish skin from sticking to the pan by sprinkling salt granules in advance.
The finished braised fish looked perfect, its surface golden and crispy, wrapped in a layer of glossy, enticing sauce, garnished with scallions and garlic, releasing an irresistible fragrance.
One bite unleashed a rich salty-sweet flavor that brought out the deep freshness of the fish meat, the deliciousness blooming layer upon layer on the tongue—truly addictive.
After the meal, Song Luyuan, full to the brim, rubbed his belly and thought.
Even though Song Xian was the kind of villain he hated most, after tasting his cooking, he probably wouldn’t have the heart to kill him.
Most likely, he would just lock him up in a kitchen forged from copper walls and iron gates, forcing him to cook for the rest of his life as atonement.
Song Xian divided the steamed corn evenly into several earthen jars and sealed them, then glanced to find Song Luyuan staring blankly at him.
“What’s Old Two thinking about?”
“Thinking about locking you up,”
Song Luyuan blurted out.
Song Hancheng was busy playing finger-guessing games with Song Jimin, and Bai Ge was whittling a wooden sword.
Upon hearing this, all their gazes turned toward Song Luyuan, filled with silent reproach.
“I mean, Father cooks so well—so good that I want to lock him up, so he only ever cooks for me.”
Better not explain—it only made it worse.
Song Xian hadn’t realized that Old Two’s personality was a bit obsessive.
He immediately set down his work, dragged a bamboo chair over to Song Luyuan, and once again sat down for a heart-to-heart.
“There are many children at home, and sometimes we might miss your feelings. But if you’re unhappy or upset, you can come talk to Father. Tell me honestly—have I been neglecting you lately? Not caring enough? Or maybe not cooking enough for you?”
Song Luyuan scratched his nose.
“No, none of that.”
“Then why such thoughts?”
“I’m joking, really! Am I the violent type?”
Song Hancheng and Song Jimin both nodded emphatically.
Bai Ge nodded the most vigorously.
Song Luyuan was so angry he almost lost it.
“I’m not! I’m joking! Don’t you all believe me?”
“We do.”
Song Xian comfortingly patted Song Luyuan’s shoulder.
“Father believes you’re an upright, principled, and especially filial child who would never bully the old, weak, sick, or disabled.”
Song Luyuan:
No need to emphasize that so much!
He really isn’t!
Fine, no explaining.
Song Luyuan changed the subject.
“Father, what’s in this jar of steamed corn for?”
“Making something sour. Can’t explain clearly now, you’ll see when the time comes.”
If this corn ferments and molds, it could produce koji, which can then be used to brew vinegar.
Song Xian had wanted to eat Tangcu Paigu for a long time but had struggled to find vinegar for the flavor.
Once the vinegar was brewed successfully, he planned to gather more Bamboo Sugarcane and sell it with sugar to make some decent money.
The money earned from selling mushrooms and white bark tree pollen was nearly gone, spent on preparations for the “Heaven’s Retribution” incident.
Next, he needed to renovate the hot springs, fence off land for raising chickens and ducks, clear fields for planting, buy seeds, buy donkeys… so many expenses—it was desperately short on money.
Brewing vinegar depended on luck, and collecting Bamboo Sugarcane was also a matter of fortune.
He couldn’t just wait to make money this way.
He had to think of a way to earn quick cash.
His gaze landed on the towering pile of Devil’s Vine under the grass shed.
These were the chosen pest-repellent herbs—it was worth a try.
Whenever he had time, Song Xian patrolled the fields near Sanhu Village.
“Look at these seedlings, they’re ruined. Not a single mouthful was eaten by people—everything was devoured by insects. This autumn’s harvest will likely be nothing again.”
Li Chunhua carried a bundle of pitcher plants, talking with Liu Daniu.
Liu Daniu sighed.
“If I’d known farming would be this hard and yield nothing, I might as well not farm at all and just gnaw on tree bark.”
“Sigh, it’s going to be another tough winter.”
“Mom, come home for dinner!”
Xu Ying called from the edge of the field.
Liu Daniu responded happily.
Li Chunhua complimented,
“Look at our Yingzi growing more beautiful every day, like a fairy from the heavens.”
Xu Ying smiled sweetly.
“Thank you, Aunt Li, for the compliment.”
“Oh my, so polite too.”
“Hey, Uncle Song’s here? Hello, Uncle Song!”
Xu Ying waved her arms, greeting Song Xian from afar.
Song Xian was taken aback; he didn’t expect the little girl to recognize him.
He quickly smiled and waved back, then walked over.
Li Chunhua warmly greeted Song Xian and invited him to breakfast.
Song Xian smiled.
“Thank you, Aunt Li, I’ve eaten. I just came to check the fields.”
“What’s there to see? Luckily, you were smart and sold your field early. I want to sell mine too, but I’m afraid no one would buy.”
Li Chunhua plucked a piece of seedling, looking at the countless tiny white insects swarming it, sighing with frustration.
Coincidentally, a plump bug crawled out from the stalk she broke, which only added to her irritation.
Song Xian examined it closely.
“Aphids and borers.”
“Oh, you even know their names.”
“Could you spare a few infected seedlings for me?”
Li Chunhua told Song Xian to take as many as he wanted.
“Uncle Song, do you have a way to get rid of the pests?”
Xu Ying jumped up excitedly, grabbing Liu Daniu’s arm.
“Mom, our fields are saved!”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Liu Daniu covered Xu Ying’s mouth.
She didn’t believe Song Xian had a solution.
“You saved Li Erlang; that boy thinks you’re a hero and believes you can fix everything.”
Song Xian didn’t expect Xu Ying to trust him so much.
Smiling, he explained,
“I just want to try. It’s not confirmed yet.”
Xu Ying hurriedly took a jade-green stone from her pocket, presenting it to Song Xian with both hands like a treasure.
“This is my Lucky Stone. Every time I face trouble, it brings me luck. I give it to Uncle Song. Uncle Song will soon find a way to get rid of pests and help everyone in our village.”
“I can’t accept this, but your kindness will surely bring good luck.”
This child was truly well-behaved.
Song Xian wished he had such a soft little daughter.
“Aren’t you lucky, Liu Daniu? Such a thoughtful Xiao Mian’ao.”
Li Chunhua envied her.
Song Xian nodded eagerly in agreement.
Liu Daniu cherished Xu Ying’s head.
“Envy us? You two only have sons, no daughters. You don’t know the joy of raising a girl…”
Jealousy made one avoid reality.
Song Xian took the seedlings and returned home, cutting several half-inch segments of thriving Devil’s Vine for experiments.
He first boiled a pot of water to kill insects, which worked very well.
He then doubled the water amount and continued testing, with the insecticidal effect still strong.
Repeated trials led Song Xian to find the threshold: half an inch of Devil’s Vine with ten buckets of water, sprayed with a fine mist, achieved excellent pest control.
Half an inch of Devil’s Vine boiled in boiling water for the time of a burning incense stick, no matter the initial water volume, always diluted to ten buckets’ worth—this killed pests equally well.
This dilution method was similar to pesticides and very convenient.
Next, Song Xian tested if the pesticide left toxic residue on the wheat seedlings, using over a dozen mice.
The results were encouraging: even spraying the seedlings with an eightfold concentration of the Pest Repellent Water was harmless to the mice.
However, to be safe, Song Xian planned to advise farmers to wait a while after spraying before consuming the crops.
That night, Song Xian shared his research results with his three sons.
“However, the farmers don’t have much money. We’ll only ask for a token amount, or let them pay with things we need. Money doesn’t have to be much, just enough. There’s plenty of money in chaotic times, but an orphaned father can’t guard it well, right?”
Song Hancheng, Song Luyuan, and Song Jimin:
The three brothers were speechless, each in their own way and with their own thoughts.
Song Jimin thought:
“What’s Father talking about? Such a low-investment, high-profit business, yet he’s willing to make so little? A tiny half-inch of Devil’s Vine can make ten buckets of Pest Repellent Water. Bottling this into delicate porcelain jars and selling to officials who raise rare plants, or martial artists fearful of poison attacks from enemies, would bring mountains of gold in no time.”
Song Luyuan thought:
“There’s plenty of money in chaotic times. I can guard it!”
Song Hancheng thought:
“As long as Father is happy.”
“Ah, aren’t my ideas good?”
Song Xian noticed his sons were silent and gently asked their opinions.
“Very good. Father, you’re thoughtful.”
Song Hancheng smiled warmly.
“I’ll help you manage this tomorrow. We must stay low-key and avoid drawing attention.”
Song Xian nodded repeatedly.
Having such a considerate eldest son made being a father truly comforting.
“Dad, I want to go to the Book House in the county with Li Erlang and the others tomorrow, okay?”
Song Jimin had no interest in petty money-making schemes.
He wanted to use the Pest Repellent Water to make a fortune.
“Fine, reading more books and learning knowledge will do you good.”
Song Xian gave Song Jimin the last twenty copper coins at home.
“Write down whatever books you like. Father will have money soon and buy them all for you.”
Song Jimin smiled innocently.
“Okay!”
Song Luyuan scratched his head.
“I’m going to work at the dock tomorrow, can’t help much.”
The Red Sleeve Tower was closed—an unusual opportunity.
He arranged to go explore the Red Sleeve Tower with Shen Deyun, the best swordsman in the Jianghu, to see who could find the more valuable treasure.
This time, he absolutely could not lose.
Losing meant three months of avoiding Shen Deyun to not get angry thinking about losing to him.
Song Xian felt sorry for Old Two working hard at the dock.
Taking advantage of Song Hancheng and Song Jimin’s distraction, he secretly slipped a few berry candies to Song Luyuan.
“Shh, only made a few of these. Here, for you. When you’re tired or dizzy working at the dock, suck on one.”
Song Luyuan was so happy to be cared for individually he grinned widely, chuckling stupidly.
By the time Song Hancheng and Song Jimin returned, they immediately sensed something was off.
“What did Father give you?”
Song Luyuan quickly pressed his hand to his chest and shook his head.
“Nothing!”
Song Hancheng silently moved behind Song Luyuan and suddenly grabbed both his arms.
“Hand it over!”
Song Jimin rushed over and snatched it.
“The three brothers agreed—we share hardships and blessings equally.”
The next morning, after breakfast, Song Xian took Song Hancheng to Chen Changgui’s house first.
Song Xian planned to solve the pest problem in Chen Changgui’s field and have Chen Changgui repay the pesticide fee with ten days’ use of his ox cart.
But when they arrived, Chen Changgui was bedridden, weak and pale, apparently seriously injured.
“What’s wrong with the village head?”
Chen Changgui didn’t dare look at Song Hancheng, weakly replying,
“Ah, old age. While doing carpentry, my hand trembled and I accidentally cut my belly.”
“That’s quite a tremor. Work less or be more careful next time.”
Song Xian hesitated whether to reveal their purpose, but Song Hancheng was straightforward and soon gained Chen Changgui’s consent.
Father and son then hurriedly loaded dozens of jars of Pest Repellent Water onto the ox cart and went door to door selling.
Li Chunhua, Liu Daniu, Xu Ying, and others witnessed the miracle of the Pest Repellent Water killing all the pests instantly.
Everyone cheered, praising Song Xian as their lifesaving hero!
Song Xian blushed.
“Not saving lives, just killing bugs.”
“But isn’t that saving lives? Without harvests, farmers lose their livelihood and only wait for death.”
Liu Daniu deeply regretted underestimating Song Xian before.
“Right, Brother Song, don’t be modest.”
“Uncle Song, I knew you’d succeed!”
Xu Ying happily hopped like a little rabbit, offering a handful of wildflowers she just picked.
This time Song Xian accepted the gift.
The Pest Repellent Water was inexpensive; each palm-sized jar diluted to ten buckets of spray, enough to cover five acres, charging three copper coins.
After selling out, Song Xian rushed home to refill water and moved on to another village. But when selling elsewhere, father and son covered their faces to keep their identity secret.
Pest infestations were almost universal, and the Pest Repellent Water’s effects were immediate, so hardly any farmers refused.
In one day’s work, they earned enough to fill two jars with money, and villagers promised to pay with timber, slate, and other building materials, saving them additional expenses.
At dusk, father and son drove the ox cart back home.
Song Xian happily counted the money, completely unaware they were being followed.
Zhou Xiao’er said to Zhou Da’er,
“Big brother, I’ve been watching them for a while. They made a lot of money selling Pest Repellent Water today.”
“Good. Let’s rob the money, find out where the Pest Repellent Water came from, then kill them!”
The two brothers raised their wooden clubs, ready to rush out and attack.
“Hey, you two, you bumped into me!”
A graceful figure suddenly fell in front of the ox cart, lying sideways on the dirt road with a seductive pose, propping her chin with one hand and reaching out with the other, batting her eyelashes at Song Hancheng and Song Xian.
“Brothers, come save me quickly!”
This person was obviously not normal.
Song Xian widened his eyes slightly and cautiously asked,
“Do you have a brain disease, madam?”
The figure suddenly stood up and shouted in a rough male voice,
“You’re the one who’s sick, your whole family’s sick!”