Daily Life in the Countryside After Being Reborn
Chapter 121 - 79: A Boy’s Heart Is Like a Needle at the Bottom of the Sea

Chapter 121: Chapter 79: A Boy’s Heart Is Like a Needle at the Bottom of the Sea

"Yezi’s father, I’m heading back too," Xiao Xian followed Yezi out, Li Quqi sighed, these kids never gave him peace of mind, he casually threw two scrapped silver blocks into the furnace.

The workshop became empty, on one of the silver blocks was a turkey-shaped magpie, a replica of "Little Pig," and on the other, a budding plum blossom. The remaining heat of the furnace continued to burn, making the plum blossom bud seem lifelike, as if the silver carving had come to life.

Yezi’s mother had finished preparing dinner, waiting for father and son to return home. She just saw Yezi take a flashlight out, saying he was escorting Xiao Xian home, then she saw Li Quqi enter the house with a frowning face.

"What’s wrong, did the kids make you angry again? Dinner can wait, Yezi has gone to walk Xiao Xian home," Yezi’s mother asked.

"Yezi is also thirteen this year. After this year, I plan to send him to learn elsewhere," in Dongnan Miao Village, there are hardly any craftsmen who can make silver anymore. Yezi, though mischievous, has been following Li Quqi in silver making and learning since he was young, immersed in it. If he truly dedicates himself, he can certainly master it, even surpassing the master.

"What? You want the kid to carry a load into the mountains to make silver for others like you did when you were young? He’s too young," Yezi’s mother was unhappy. Li Quqi had been away from home all year round, and if Yezi was sent to learn as a traveling craftsman, she really wouldn’t know how to cope. Yezi’s mother threw the pot lid onto the stove, turning her back to Li Quqi, sulking.

"You know, Yezi is a natural at learning silver making. He could distinguish the silverware I made from those made by other craftsmen at three years old. At seven, he secretly made you a bracelet; if it weren’t for your heartache over his burn injury from making silver, his skills wouldn’t have stalled these past years." The generation of Li Quqi as silver makers relied on hard work and perseverance, most of their techniques and skills were honed through relentless practice.

Yezi is his only son, and he will certainly pass on his skills to him without reservation.

"He should at least finish school, at least through high school. We can’t have him be ignorant," Yezi’s mother knew she had a point. She also understood that Li Quqi’s intention for Yezi to learn silver making was not just to find a successor, but for the sake of Dongnan Miao Village.

Dongnan Miao Village had been well-supported by national policies for many years, all thanks to Li Quqi’s title as a Political Advisor. Now, with no remarkable person found in the village, Yezi was bound to take up that responsibility.

"Just one year’s time, I’ll take him around to learn, delaying his schooling for a year won’t hurt. With his temperament, he might cause trouble in middle school anyway. When he comes back, you talk to him," Li Quqi didn’t say much more, traveling and learning could temper Yezi’s impulsive nature.

A gradually full bright moon hung over White Dragon Pond, signaling that the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15 was approaching.

"It’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival. Xiao Xian, Master Shanyin said, after this year, we won’t need to go to the temple for classes anymore. My mama said she’ll send me to the town to attend middle school," Yezi straightened his hand, pressing the flashlight, although the moonlight was so good, it didn’t matter whether there was a flashlight or not.

"Going to town? That’s good, your big frame, you have been out of place in class for a while," Xiao Xian spoke bluntly, she had heard adults say that Yezi’s age was already suitable for middle school. There were a few older children in Ge Village who went to town for middle school, coming back to the village once a month.

"How about, you come with me to study in town? Your grades are almost the same as mine, plus you can speak the foreign language that even Master Shanyin doesn’t know," Yezi had yet to learn that his educational plans had a new twist. He had long been tired of studying in the temple, but going to town meant he wouldn’t see Xiao Xian’s round face.

Thinking of this, Yezi inadvertently raised the flashlight higher, shining it directly on Xiao Xian’s face, waiting for her response.

"If I went to town, my grandfather would have no one to accompany him," Zhu Shijun had mentioned before, when middle school starts, he would send Xiao Xian to study in a middle school in Guiyang, claiming he had a friend there, but that was still several years away.

Yezi opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but suddenly stopped, turning the flashlight immediately towards White Dragon Pond.

The beam of the flashlight didn’t reach far, and Yezi felt an eerie sense of unease. He turned the flashlight back, sweeping it across the sky.

Just when they had left the house, there was a moon in the sky, but from the west, lead-colored clouds rolled in, quickly obscuring the moon, leaving only a patch of clouded light in the sky.

"Not good, we have to hurry back. We’re closer to Ge Village here, let’s quickly head to the village," in the gap as Yezi spoke, a gust of wind blew from White Dragon Pond, causing the trees in its path to emit frightening crackling sounds.

Hundreds of planks laid on the iron chain bridge crossing White Dragon Pond were lifted, thrashing towards the sky. A water dragon rose from the pond, charging towards the surface.

With a "crack," the chain on the left side of the bridge was forcefully broken by the water dragon, flinging towards the bank. Yezi and Xiao Xian, who just managed to stop in time on the shore, were blinded by the swirling dust and stones, making it impossible to open their eyes.

"We need to head back," as soon as Yezi spoke, a huge hole tore through the dark clouds in the sky, rain pouring down diagonally, "find a place to shelter," Yezi, familiar with the terrain, remembered a nearby abandoned mountain guard shed.

Between the woods, the wind uprooted trees not very old, and Yezi grabbed Xiao Xian, choosing paths sheltered by tall trees, not daring to slack even a little, the storm was fierce, having lived in the mountains for so long, he had never encountered such a severe storm.

Stumbling along, they almost crawled to find the mountain guard shed, just as Yezi was mustering all his strength to hold onto Xiao Xian, he collapsed to the ground as soon as they entered the shed. For some reason, near this shed, the storm seemed much lesser, Xiao Xian steadied herself, scanning the surroundings, noticing a juniper planted next to the shed.

Xiao Xian did not expect that the Dragon Juniper Red Locust Great Wizard spoke of was planted here.

Seeing the Dragon Juniper, as if remembering something, she did not mind the violently shaking fence inside the shed, climbed up to get a better view, and at that moment, felt as if an invisible hand grasped her heart tightly, "Grandpa! Ge Village!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)