Chapter 56: Leng Xiao’s Way of Handling Things

Wen Nuannuan took a deep breath, but before she could fully express herself, she saw Aunt Wang, holding a hare in her left hand and a pheasant in her right, hurriedly placing the chicken and rabbit back into the wooden basin.

Her expression was particularly humble, and she kept defending herself: “Oh, I just thought these rabbits and pheasants were so plump and beautiful, I couldn’t help myself. But really, as neighbors, how could I not know your family’s situation? You’re so pitiful, barely having enough to eat—how could I really take your food?”

Not only were the others dumbfounded, but Wen Nuannuan was also completely baffled. What kind of act was this?

She wasn’t foolish, so why couldn’t she figure it out?

She just couldn’t follow Aunt Wang’s train of thought.

Wen Nuannuan glanced at the others, and their faces were just as confused as hers.

It wasn’t until Wen Nuannuan turned sideways and saw Leng Xiao, who had already walked out of the main room and was standing under the eaves, weighing a gleaming firewood chopper in his hand!

Oh, Leng Xiao, holding the sharpened firewood chopper, simply stood quietly under the corridor, his expression cool and detached, his gaze deep and icy as he stared at Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang had put the things down of her own accord, which was more effective than any words.

Wen Nuannuan felt that her perspective had been too narrow, too shallow.

What disdain for petty behavior and retreating indoors for peace and quiet, what scholars caring most about their reputation—none of that existed for Leng Xiao!

He had simply chosen the simplest yet most effective method.

Remaining silent was more effective than saying hundreds or thousands of words.

In the book, he was decisive, capable, and resolute, but that was after he gained power. At the time, she thought, wasn’t it easy to do anything once you had power?

What she hadn’t expected was that Leng Xiao would handle these trivial, mundane matters, and even more unexpected was that he would choose such a direct approach.

Just moments ago, while chatting, although he seemed cool and detached, not particularly warm, he had answered every question and never let any of her words fall flat.

She had thought he was the type with a cold exterior but a warm heart.

Impressive, truly a man of action, not words!

Thinking of the wound on his back and wanting to break the silent atmosphere, Wen Nuannuan stepped forward. “Why did you bring out the firewood chopper?”

Only when she got closer did she lower her voice to a whisper only the two of them could hear: “Did it pull on your wound?”

Leng Xiao lowered his head, his voice carrying a hint of reassurance. “No.”

“The eldest of the Leng Family is so clever. If only my husband could be like that someday, then we wouldn’t have to worry about others taking advantage of us,” Auntie Zhu exclaimed, watching the scene in shock, her tone filled with envy.

Aunt Jiang was also dumbfounded. Had they failed to gain any advantage?

So this was how it could be done. Why couldn’t her husband do the same!

Aunt Wang looked embarrassed and turned to walk toward the horse pen, exclaiming loudly, “Come, everyone, look! Is this a horse?”

“My husband said he heard a horse neighing, and I didn’t believe it, but there really is a horse,” a young woman stepped forward, her tone tinged with envy.

Mentioning the horse, the two little ones’ faces lit up with obvious joy, but as if remembering something, they quickly suppressed their happiness.

“Has the Leng Family become prosperous? They can even afford a horse now? This horse looks so strong!” Aunt Wang, thinking of the gleaming firewood chopper, spoke with great restraint.

Though there was still a hint of envy in her tone.

Leng Yun explained, “This is a wild horse my eldest and second brothers brought back from the mountains. It didn’t cost any silver.”

Hearing that it was a wild horse and hadn’t cost any silver, gasps of admiration, envy, and praise filled the air.

Wen Nuan Nuan could understand, after all, she had felt the same way last night.

“Auntie from the Leng Family, could I borrow your horse to haul goods into town? Just this once, it won’t cost you anything,” Aunt Wang said, already scheming in her mind.

Pulling the flatbed cart herself was too exhausting.

Taking the village chief’s ox cart cost two coins per person per trip, with extra charges for carrying more goods.

If she could borrow the horse, not only would it be impressive and save money, but she could also haul a lot more in one go.

She hadn’t taken any meat from the Leng Family earlier, so surely they couldn’t refuse to lend the horse just once.

Leng Yun, fuming, was about to step forward and argue when she heard her sister-in-law’s clear, agreeable voice:

“Sure.”

Aunt Wang’s face immediately lit up with a smile.

Another young woman eagerly opened her mouth to speak.

But then, that clear voice continued unhurriedly, “As you all know, our family’s situation is almost as bad as having no rice to cook. Although the horse didn’t cost us money to buy, Little Brother and the others have to cut grass to feed it. If they spend time cutting grass, they won’t have time to forage for food in the mountains.

So I was thinking, the village chief’s ox cart costs two coins per person per trip, four coins for a round trip. A full cart of seven or eight people rounds up to thirty coins. A mule cart is better than an ox cart, so fifty coins per cartload sounds fair, right?

Ours is a horse cart, and a strong horse at that. Not only can it carry a lot, but it’s also much more impressive when going into town. I think it should be worth at least eighty coins to match its value!

Eighty coins can buy over ten catties of coarse grains or dozens of catties of black flour. Even with our large family and hearty appetites, that could last us over ten days, couldn’t it?

If any of you want to use it, just say so! Feel free to spread the word to others in the village too—everyone is welcome to use it! It’s only eighty coins, after all. As fellow villagers, we should help each other out!” Wen Nuan Nuan spoke with great enthusiasm toward the end.

Hmph, as long as she had no morals, no one could morally blackmail her.

Leng Yun quietly retracted the foot she had prepared to step forward and argue.

Leng Chen stifled a laugh, his small body trembling slightly.

Even Leng Xiao, who had remained cold and detached from start to finish, now had a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Hearing the exorbitant price of eighty coins, Aunt Wang nearly cursed out loud. But remembering the chilling gleam of Leng Xiao’s blade, she instinctively shrank her neck and swallowed the words she was about to spit out.

The others who had been eager to ask, upon hearing this price, knew the Leng Family had no intention of lending the horse.

If they really wanted to “borrow” it, they could—for eighty coins per trip. Not only would poor families like theirs be unwilling to pay, even wealthy households might hesitate.

Unlike Aunt Wang, who never seemed to get enough of taking advantage and felt uncomfortable if she wasn’t, the others quickly gave up on the idea.

Without even a polite farewell, Aunt Wang left empty-handed and dejected.

Wen Nuan Nuan guessed she wouldn’t be coming back again.

Well, good.

The remaining few chatted for a while, exchanged pleasantries, and gradually left.

As soon as the courtyard gate closed, Leng Yun said with a fearful expression, “Sister-in-law, you scared me! I thought you couldn’t bring yourself to refuse out of politeness.”

Wen Nuan Nuan huffed indignantly, “If I were too polite to refuse, our family’s horse would end up working for others indefinitely. And you wouldn’t be able to say anything or ask for it back—if you did, you’d be the one in the wrong, accused of being petty or not caring for your neighbors.

It’s better to shut it down from the start. Want to ‘borrow’ it? Fine—clearly marked price, and make it clear that this price is already a favor to the villagers! That’s what you call taking someone else’s path and leaving them with nowhere to go.”

It’s like when someone asks to borrow money from you, and you recommend a loan service instead, telling them you also borrow from there. That’s guaranteed to make them never come back—it works like a charm.

“Sister-in-law, are you telling them to go back and spread the word, so that others will know they have to pay and won’t come either?” Leng Chen asked.

“Exactly! It solves the problem once and for all. Am I amazing?” Wen Nuan Nuan lifted her chin, her proud and coquettish expression clearly seeking praise.

A low, deep voice, clearly tinged with amusement, affirmed: “Amazing.”