The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 585: Business as Unusual

Chapter 585: Business as Unusual

Xu Feng saw the understanding in the older man’s sharp eyes and pressed forward smoothly. "I’ll need help finding workers—trustworthy ones. More men than last time, and a few women to cook for them. We’ll provide the food, of course."

He allowed the words to settle, leaving just enough room for the implications to be understood. The last round of workers had done well, but the estate was much larger than Blooming Courtyard alone. This time, the renovations were more expansive, requiring more hands and careful oversight.

"And, like last time," Xu Feng continued, voice even, "those who take on the work will be fairly compensated."

Lu Lizheng nodded, his fingers stroking his beard in thought. His mind was already working through the possibilities, likely thinking of trustworthy candidates in the village. He had seen firsthand how Xu Feng treated his workers—not just with fair wages, but with consideration. It was a rare thing for an employer to provide food with meat and fair pay, rather than cutting corners to pocket more silver.

But Xu Feng wasn’t finished.

"There’s something else," he added, smoothly shifting the conversation. "I’ve been considering ways to increase trade between Nanshan Estate and the surrounding villages. Not just Yilin Town, but the villages as well."

Dalang, who had been quietly listening, straightened slightly. "Trade?"

Xu Feng nodded, his expression thoughtful. "There are villages along the Nanshan mountain range with access to fruits and other wild goods. In the spring and fall, when these things are abundant, they’re often overlooked—too common to be worth much in local markets. But my estate will buy them."

A spark of interest flickered in the eyes of both Lu Lizheng and his sons.

Xu Feng let the words linger, watching as the idea took root.

"This could bring in a steady flow of silver for the surrounding villages," he continued, his tone even but persuasive. "Not just for our estate, but for Nanshan Village as well. And beyond that..."

He glanced briefly toward Erlang and Dalang, offering a small, knowing smile.

"There’s also the matter of in laws."

Dalang blinked, clearly caught off guard. "In laws?"

Xu Feng hummed in confirmation. "Many of the men here, like Erlang and Dalang, have married from nearby villages. Others have sisters, daughters, or gers who have married outside Nanshan Village. This could be a way to create stronger ties between families—allowing in laws to earn silver, improving relationships."

The words were measured, smooth. The pitch was subtle, but the intent behind it was clear. Silver was important, yes. But so was influence. So was security.

A family whose in laws were benefiting from their business would have stronger support in times of need. A daughter married off to a neighboring village would not simply be "gone"—she would have a tether back to her family, a reason to visit, a reason to maintain connection with their roots. She would have more standing in the foreign family.

It was a win win situation.

For the estate. For the village. For the families who would now have a reason to work together to earn silver.

Lu Lizheng sat back, rubbing his chin, his food momentarily forgotten. "You’ve put much thought into this."

Xu Feng’s lips curled slightly. "I try to think ahead."

Xuan Jian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You don’t try. You do. You think several steps ahead."

Xu Feng shrugged, not denying it. "It’s a habit."

The conversation settled for a moment as the guests digested both their meal and his proposal.

Then—

"We will also be taking in children."

The words were spoken so casually, so smoothly, that for a moment, they almost went unnoticed.

Almost.

The entire table stilled.

Xu Feng turned his head slightly toward Xuan Yang, who had just finished refilling his cup. The man hadn’t even looked up, as if what he had just said was of no particular importance.

But the newer wives?

They had noticed.

Xu Feng caught the way their backs straightened, their eyes sharpening ever so slightly with interest.

Not at the mention of extra silver. Not at the idea of building trade routes.

But at this.

A ripple passed through them, small but unmistakable. As if they already had people in mind. As if there were whispers waiting to spill from their lips, only barely contained by propriety.

Xu Feng hid his amusement behind his cup, taking a slow sip.

Good.

News needed to spread.

They needed to find children who had been abandoned, children who had nowhere else to go. And word of his own children would spread regardless—Lady Xuan had likely ensured that every noble in the capital knew by now.

A bit of gossip circulating through the neighboring villages and Yilin Town wasn’t something they needed to contain.

If anything, it would help them.

Xu Feng placed his cup down with a quiet clink and smiled. "Our children will need playmates."

That wasn’t his reasoning, but he might as well make the gossip worthwhile.

.

.

.

Xu Feng was surprised at how well the night had gone.

He hadn’t choked on his words, hadn’t fumbled the conversation, and his anxiety hadn’t grown arms and tried to pummel him to death. He had survived, and more than that, everything he needed to say had been said.

The reception had been better than expected.

The only real disturbance in the night came when Xu Zeng entered the hall, his expression slightly strained as he carried a very unhappy Xiao Long in his arms.

The tiny boy’s wails filled the space, an endless stream of pitiful cries that tugged at Xu Feng’s heartstrings immediately.

Xu Feng barely registered the murmurs around the table as the guests fell silent, watching the interruption with varying expressions. His full attention was on his son.

"He’s been changed, he’s been fed, he’s burped," Xu Zeng reported, his tone almost offended, as if Xiao Long’s cries were a personal betrayal. "But he won’t stop."

Xu Feng was already reaching for him before his brother finished speaking. The moment Xiao Long was settled into his arms, the crying softened into sniffles, then hiccups, and finally... silence.

The little cub snuggled into his dad’s chest, his tiny hands fisting the fabric of Xu Feng’s robes as if to make sure he wouldn’t be put down again. His round face was blotchy from crying, his little nose scrunched as he stubbornly refused to look at anyone else.

Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian both extended their arms to take him, but the baby refused, curling tighter against his ger dad.

Xu Feng exhaled, rubbing soothing circles on his son’s back. He knew the boys weren’t particularly fussy children, so when they did cry, all his internal alarm bells went off.

Having extra hands to help was nice, but guilt gnawed at him nonetheless. Shouldn’t he be the one handling everything for his children? Was he relying on everyone else too much?

Still, Xiao Long was fine now, and that was what mattered. He glanced up, only to catch the soft look in Xu Zeng’s eyes as he gazed down at his nephew.

Xu Feng wasn’t given much time to dwell on it, though—because moments later, another cry rang through the hall. Xu San entered next, followed by a masked Xu Hu Zhe. In Xu Hu Zhe’s arms, squirming and crying, was Da Long.

Xu Feng blinked.

Were they...?

Before the thought could fully form, Xu San gave a quick explanation, her voice laced with the same baffled tone Xu Zeng had used.

"He was fine one moment, then he started crying nonstop."

Xu Feng stared down at Xiao Long, who was now fighting sleep, his little hand still tightly clutching his robe.

Xu Feng looked at Da Long, who was wailing, his tiny fists shaking as if he was personally offended by something.

Xu Feng shifted, adjusting the baby in his hold so that Da Long could see his twin properly.

Almost instantly, the wailing stopped.

Da Long’s little body sagged, and he blinked rapidly at his brother, still sniffling but no longer screaming. His tiny hand stretched forward, grasping at Xiao Long’s sleeve.

Xiao Long, sleepy and clearly irritated that he had been woken up for this, let out a long sigh through his nose but didn’t pull away.

The hall had gone completely silent. The guests, who had already been watching with thinly veiled interest, were now openly staring.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed that both babies had been offered first to Xuan Jian and Xuan Yang before Xu Feng.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed that the two men had reached for them without hesitation as if it was natural.

If anyone had doubted the reality of their unconventional marriage before, there was little doubt left now.

The children knew their fathers.

But in the end, they wanted their ger dad.

Xu Feng, preoccupied with keeping both babies comfortable, barely registered the shift in the room. He was too focused on whispering soft reassurances.

Across the table, Lu Lizheng realized this was his cue.

With a warm but firm voice, he said, "Master Xu, it’s late, and your children need their rest. We won’t keep you any longer."

Xu Feng finally looked up, meeting the older man’s understanding gaze.

The children had stolen the show, and Lu Lizheng, more conscientious than the gossipy women at his side, knew when it was time to take his leave.

Xiao Long hadn’t stopped rubbing his eyes since he got comfortable.

Xu Feng nodded, adjusting his hold on the twins. "Thank you for coming, Chief Lu."

Polite words were exchanged, goodbyes spoken. Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe saw the guests out, while Xu San began clearing the table herself.

Xu Feng looked down at his boys, who were still blinking sleepily but refusing to let go of each other.

He sighed and smiled.

He turned to his husbands, gently passing Da Long to Xuan Jian and Xiao Long to Xuan Yang. Both babies protested at first but were too tired to do much about it.

"Dad will change you and put you to bed," he murmured, rubbing their little backs as he transferred them.