Jie teaches the Immortal Sweeping Heaven’s Cultivation of All Heavens

Liu Tong handed the steamed bun to the little girl.

The little girl took the steamed bun and started eating it.

Liu Tong raised an eyebrow.

The steamed bun was bigger than the little girl's face, and he thought she would share half with her mother.

You can tell what a person will be like at three years old, this girl...

Liu Tong shook her head and left.

Back home, Liu Dong heated up the remaining steamed buns in a pot, cooked a pot of soup, and prepared a side dish.

After waiting for half an hour, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old walked in.

The boy is Liu Shan, Liu Tong's older brother in this life.

The two were orphans.

Ten years ago, their mother brought them to this village and they settled down.

The two had no father; they were orphans and widows, and would normally be bullied.

But Liu's mother was strong and had once broken the hand of a man who harassed her.

From then on, the villagers dared not provoke the family of three again.

Even though Liu's mother suddenly left three years ago and never returned, the villagers didn't dare to bully Liu Shan and Liu Tong.

Both of them learned skills from their mother—and Liu Shan also possessed an innate talent, with suitable cultivation techniques appearing in his mind even as a child. Liu Shan's mother believed that her son was the reincarnation of some powerful being—Liu Shan supported himself and his younger brother by hunting in the mountains.

The sight of a young boy carrying a huge, ferocious wild boar down the mountain shocked the entire village.

Therefore, even without their mother, the two of them still lived a good life in the village.

The villagers were ordinary people, bullying the weak and fearing the strong, but they were also quite simple and honest. The two brothers had a good relationship with the villagers.

Because they were orphans, the two brothers took good care of another pair of orphans and widows in the village.

That orphan was the little girl Liu Dong had given steamed buns to before.

The little girl doesn't have a formal name; she's just called Ya Ya.

Her biological mother was named Taofen, and she was very beautiful.

Ya Ya's biological father is named Long Er, the second son of the Long family, and he is not valued at home.

Three years ago, when the imperial court conscripted soldiers, the Long family, unwilling to part with their eldest and favored third sons, sent out the second son instead.

Long Er was sent to the border, and not long after, news came back that he had died in battle.

At that time, Taofen had just given birth to Yaya.

When the two elders of the Long family found out that the baby was not a grandson, they treated Tao Fen even worse and kicked her and her daughter out of their home three months ago.

The villagers took pity on the two women and arranged for them to live in a simple thatched hut.

Liu Tong and Liu Shan recalled the days when their mother raised them, and feeling deeply for her, they took great care of the mother and daughter.

When the Chinese fir catches prey, it will share one or two with them.

The mother and daughter have actually been living a better life these past few months than they did in the Long family.

At least, with the help of the Liu brothers, the two of them were able to have enough to eat.

In the Long family, they often went hungry.

After Liu Tong and Liu Shan finished their meal, they went about their own business.

The bark of the Japanese cedar is being tanned; it can be sold for a good amount of money.

Liu is weaving bamboo baskets.

It's not the big, bulky baskets you carry on your back in the countryside, but a small, exquisite basket with patterns, which can hold needles and thread, or fruits and vegetables.

These baskets can be sold in the city to earn money.

Just then, someone knocked on their door.

The gate was not closed; the man knocked once and then went straight into the courtyard.

This woman was slender and had delicate features. Although she looked haggard and had a sallow complexion, she was still prettier than the other girls in the village.

It was none other than Tao Fen. It is said that Tao Fen was once a maid in a wealthy family. Because of her good looks, she caught the eye of the master of the house, who wanted to take her as a concubine.

But the mistress disagreed and wanted to sell him into a brothel.

Long Er happened to be passing by and took out all the money that the Long family had given him to buy cattle, and bought Tao Fen.

This is precisely why the Long family dislikes Tao Fen.

For farmers, an ox is far more precious than a woman who cannot be carried on their shoulders.

Although the two elders of the Long family were biased, they did not disregard their second son.

But after this incident, the two elders of the Long family were disappointed in Long Er.

Later, they would send Ryuji directly to the battlefield.

Peach Pink walked over softly and said to Willow Shan, "Shan, I'll make, uh, a piece of clothing and bring it to you."

Liu Shan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly waved her hand: "No need, Sister Tao Fen, I have clothes to wear."

Peach Pink: "This dress was made especially for you. If you don't want it, it's useless for me to keep it, and it would be a waste. Just accept it."

Liu Shan thought for a moment, then reached out to take the clothes.

"Wait a minute." Liu Dong ran forward, took the clothes first, and then took out a handful of copper coins from her pocket and handed them to Tao Fen. "How can I let Sister Tao Fen spend money? This is money for the clothes."

"No, no need." Tao Fen tried to refuse, but Liu Qiu had already forcefully placed the money in her palm.

Liu Tong: "Sister Taofen, with money, you can make new clothes for Yaya and yourself."

Tao Fen paused, no longer refusing the money Liu Qiu offered.

She looked into Liu Dong's eyes and saw that the boy had a knowing look on his face. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly left.

Liu Tong turned around and handed the clothes to Liu Shan, saying, "Brother, put these clothes away and don't wear them. Don't let people think you have any relationship with the widow."

Liu Shan: "Huh?"

Liu Tong: "That woman has taken a liking to you and wants to marry you."

Liu Shan: "Me? She's older than me, how could that be?"

Liu Tong: "You're fifteen, she's twenty-one, only six years older. It's mainly because you're so capable, big brother, that Tao Fen wants to live a good life with you. Actually, quite a few girls in the village are interested in you."

Liu Shan chuckled and said, "I don't want to get married yet."

He's only fifteen, and he doesn't want to get married so early.

He planned to wait two more years until his younger brother was a little older before taking him to find their mother.

Getting married and having children, wouldn't that just add more trouble to your life?

Liu Tong: "Then you should stay away from Tao Fen from now on. If there's prey, I'll deliver it to them. But even if I do deliver it, don't be so eager. Wait until they're out of food before delivering it."

Liu Shan: "But Ya Ya is still young..."

Liu Tong: "Big brother, that girl is very smart, she won't let herself go hungry."

The child, taking advantage of his young age, always begged for food from the villagers.

The villagers found her cute and would give her some food.

He's just a little kid, so he doesn't eat much.

Liu Shan: "...Alright then."

The two no longer cared for Taofen and her daughter as they used to. Taofen knew that her plan could not succeed, so she had no choice but to give up on Liushan.

She quickly chose another candidate.

He was the shopkeeper of the shop where she sold her embroidery.

The shopkeeper's wife has passed away, leaving behind a daughter who is five years older than Yaya, but no son.

Although the shopkeeper wasn't as good-looking as Liu Shan, he was richer and had maids and servants to serve him.

Once Taofen marries him, she won't have to do any work herself.

Therefore, in the following days, Taofen always went to the city and to the embroidery shops.

The shopkeeper's gaze towards her became increasingly different. (End of Chapter)