Druid Fairy

Chapter 121 Snow Disaster, Stormy Weather Approaching

Two winters have passed in the blink of an eye.

It is said that a timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest, but this year's snowfall was unusually heavy.

The north wind whipped up snowflakes as big as goose feathers, blanketing the earth. In just a few days, the entire Yunshui County was covered in a thick layer of silver.

The world was a vast expanse of white, blurring the boundaries between houses, fields, and mountains.

In ordinary homes, doors and windows were tightly shut, and every effort was made to ward off the biting cold. Yet, even so, countless people in the countryside shivered and struggled in the wind and snow.

In stark contrast to the bleak winds and snow outside, the Li family mansion in Peach Blossom Village was warm and cozy, like springtime.

After several years of development, the Li family is now a completely different entity.

Li Pingfu's镖局 (bodyguard agency) and martial arts school have spread to almost every town and village in Yunshui County. Both the legitimate and criminal worlds give him some face.
Li Ping'an steadily advanced in his official career, and his reputation grew daily.

The Li family's shop's unique "preserved peaches" were sold far and wide, becoming a popular snack for high-ranking officials and nobles.

Even more noteworthy is the peach grafting method that Li Pingcan accidentally discovered. Peach seedlings cultivated using this method not only have an extremely high survival rate, but the peaches they produce are also much sweeter and juicier than ordinary ones. The Mu family immediately took advantage of this and sent them to the palace as tribute.

From a small rural landlord who fled famine to now living in peace and prosperity with thriving descendants.

Inside the main hall of the mansion, fine silver charcoal burned, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Madam Qin, seated at the head of the table, listened quietly to the report. She was nearly fifty, but time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her.

Having cultivated the "Breath of the Tree" for many years, and nourished by the spirit-gathering array in the house and the mulberry spirit tree, her face remained as smooth as jade. She looked like a gentle woman in her early thirties, and standing next to her daughter-in-law Jiang Ling'er, she looked more like sisters.

Years of pampered life have given her a dignified air that is not found in ordinary wealthy housewives; she is calm and gentle, yet carries an air of authority.

The steward who came to report was Qian Decai, who had been promoted in recent years. He was very clever and good at reading people's expressions.

He was bowing over, his face contorted with grief, his voice trembling with just the right amount of sobs, as if he had witnessed a human tragedy firsthand.

"Madam, you didn't see it! Those disaster victims outside the city, their lips are turning purple from the cold, huddled in dilapidated temples, unable to even get a bowl of hot porridge... I, I felt so heartbroken just looking at them that I cried. It's just too tragic!"

As he spoke, he vigorously wiped the dry corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

As Qin listened, her heart tightened, and she seemed to see again the miserable state of her family when they fled famine many years ago.

She sighed softly and lamented, "A rich man's feast is a poor man's half a year's food. Back then, we also went through this hardship step by step, and we know what it's like to be hungry and cold. This heavy snow is a beautiful sight for us, but for the poor, it's an insurmountable obstacle... What a tragedy."

She made a decision: "Open the granary. Set up sheds in the county town to distribute porridge; we can save as many as we can. Also, send another batch of cotton clothes and quilts over there."

She paused, then added, "Also, send someone to check on the village chief's family. The old man is getting on in years; make sure he doesn't get cold. Also, send some rice, flour, and meat to Master Zhou Enxian's family. They practice martial arts, which takes a lot of energy. Our Li family owes its success today to the help of our fellow villagers back then. We must never forget our roots."

"The old lady is so kind! You are like a living bodhisattva descended to earth!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Decai immediately praised loudly, his face beaming with joy, and his heart overflowing with elation.

"Hey, this old lady is so kind and easily fooled, such a woman's compassion! Excellent! This is a golden opportunity to line my own pockets! I'll report a hundred bushels of grain, use only thirty bushels mixed with old rice to make porridge, and resell the remaining seventy bushels—that'll be another fortune! As for the village chief and Master Zhou's meager possessions, a little bit slipping through their fingers will be enough to appease them! Then I can buy a small courtyard, take two beautiful concubines, wouldn't that be wonderful!"

He was happily making plans when he didn't notice a small, delicate figure, with short legs, wobbling over to Qin Shi and gently tugging at her clothes.

This is Li Mengze, the son of Li Pingcan and Xie Yuan, who is now three years old.

This little guy has been different from others since he was a child. He never cries or makes a fuss, and his big, dark eyes always carry a deep thought that is beyond his years.

He often dreams of a soft, green space and a beautiful white jade lotus flower. Countless wondrous points of light enter his mind, teaching him to distinguish right from wrong and to understand people's hearts.

Although he didn't understand what it was, he instinctively knew that it was his biggest secret and he must never tell anyone he wasn't close to.

"Grandma," Li Mengze said in a childish voice, looking up at her little face.

"My dear grandson." Madam Qin lovingly picked him up.

Li Mengze leaned close to Qin Shi's ear, pointed his chubby little finger at Qian Decai who was bowing and retreating, and uttered a single word in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Bad."

Qin's smile froze slightly. She looked down at the clear, innocent eyes of her grandson in her arms, and a sudden thought struck her. She knew her grandson better than anyone. Although Mengze was young, he had never lied.

She subtly gave a wink to her trusted old woman beside her, who understood and quietly slipped away.

Sure enough, half an hour later, the old woman brought back news: Qian Decai had not gone to the granary, but had secretly contacted grain merchants in the city, and his conversation was full of words like "passing off inferior goods as superior ones" and "stealing the beams and pillars".

Qin was so angry that she trembled all over and slammed her hand on the table: "You treacherous dog! How dare you set your sights on the disaster victims' life-saving food!"

This scene was witnessed by the brothers Li Yuanhu and Li Yuanxi, who had come to pay their respects.

Li Yuanhu is now ten years old and has made some progress in the Five Elements Body Forging Technique. His strength far surpasses that of an adult. He grew up listening to his father's stories of punishing evil and eliminating wickedness, and he is at the age where he admires heroes and is full of righteousness.

Upon hearing this, he flew into a rage, his little fists clenching so tightly they cracked: "Grandma, don't be angry! This scoundrel, I'll catch him and hand him over to my father for punishment!"

Without waiting for Qin's response, he turned and rushed out like a little tiger.

"Brother, wait for me!"

Li Yuanxi quickly followed. Although he was not as strong as his brother, he had been very perceptive since childhood, with a mental strength far exceeding that of ordinary people, and could always detect details that others could not.

At this moment, Qian Decai was humming a little tune, directing his servants in his own courtyard to load bags of inferior, stale rice onto a cart, preparing to exchange them for the good rice used for disaster relief.

"Get the job done! Once this deal is done, everyone will get a reward!" He said smugly, as if he could already see piles of silver waving at him.

Just then, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps outside the courtyard gate, followed by a loud "bang" as the gate was kicked open from the outside!

Qian Decai was startled. He turned around and saw a chubby-faced boy standing angrily at the door. Who else could it be but Li Yuanhu, the eldest son of the Li family?

He was about to smile and step forward to greet the young master, asking why he was angry, hoping to become acquainted with him.

"Qian Decai! You audacious scoundrel, how dare you embezzle disaster relief grain!" Li Yuanhu shouted sternly, pointing at him.

Qian Youcai's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface, immediately putting on a wronged and angry expression.

He straightened his back and rebuked Li Yuanhu, "Young Master Yuanhu, what are you saying! I, Qian Youcai, am loyal to the Li family and I regard the old lady's orders as divine decrees. How could I do such a despicable thing? Don't listen to the slander of petty people and wrong an innocent person!"

Seeing that Li Yuanhu was just a child, he tried to use his position as the manager to get away with it: "You're young and don't understand the ins and outs of this. As for the grain, there's good stuff and there's old stuff. Mixing them together to make porridge will prevent the disaster victims from getting sick from eating something too refined. I'm doing this all for their own good, and also to save money for the master. The old lady will praise me for being good at managing the household!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Li Yuanhu's face turned red with anger, but he didn't know how to refute his fallacious reasoning for a moment.

Just then, Li Yuanxi, who had been quietly following behind, gently tugged at her brother's sleeve. Her clear voice rang out, but every word was like a needle piercing Qian Youcai's heart.

"Manager Qian, you make it sound so nice. But the rice in our granary has the fragrance of peach wood, so why does the rice in your truck smell musty and dusty?"

He wrinkled his little nose and pointed to a piece of paper on the stone table in the courtyard, its corner blown up by the wind: "Also, if it's for making porridge for disaster victims, why is there a contract with 'Sihai Grain Store' on the table? It says in black and white that seventy shi of 'superior new rice' will be sold?"

Everyone gets the stolen goods!

Qian Youcai's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, and his mind went blank for a moment.

How is that possible? How could a four or five-year-old child be so perceptive and see through it all in one sentence?
"Who exactly tipped us off?!"

He didn't have time to think; his survival instinct made him react immediately—run!
He shoved aside the servants beside him and scrambled towards the backyard, where a low wall led to a secluded path—his escape route, prepared long ago. Little did he know that Li Yuanxi had seen every single one of his movements.

"Brother! He's going to run through the back wall!" Li Yuanxi's clear voice rang out.

"Want to run? No way!"

Li Yuanhu shouted and unleashed his ape-like agility, leaping directly onto the courtyard wall. In a few bounds, he reached Qian Decai in front of him, landing steadily like a god descending to earth, blocking his path.

Qian Decai stared at the child in front of him, who was a head shorter than him, his face filled with horror.

He just couldn't figure out which part of the process went wrong.

Why is it that the young master of the Li family can find me so accurately, like a ghost?
Little did he know that what truly brought him down was not some elaborate scheme, but simply a three-year-old child and the innocent word "bad."

"Go ahead and capture it!"

Li Yuanhu was too lazy to waste words with him. He assumed the Tiger Form Fist stance, and a fierce aura that was completely inconsistent with his age rushed over him.

Qian Decai's legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the cold snow with a thud.

…………

Li Ping'an and Li Pingfu walked out of the county government office side by side. The winter wind blew on their faces, but it was far less chilling than the coldness in their hearts.

In the back hall of the county government office, Liang Xianguan was describing a tragic scene to the two brothers in an almost sorrowful tone: "The people's livelihood is difficult, the county treasury is empty, I am worried day and night, but I am powerless to help."

"Alas, this heavy snowfall is a sight that pains me to see!"

Liang Xianguan held his teacup, sighing deeply, his brows furrowed in a deep sorrow, as if the suffering of all the people in the world weighed on his shoulders alone.

"Your Li family is truly virtuous! You have taken the initiative to open your granaries and distribute grain to relieve the disaster victims. You are a model for merchants in Yunshui County! I am very pleased!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his face showing a "I'm in a difficult position too" expression: "But... this is ultimately just a drop in the ocean. The disaster victims are crying for food, and we don't know when the snow disaster will end, yet the county government's accounts are completely empty. As the county magistrate, I can't sleep or eat in peace, I'm ashamed before the Emperor and the people!"

Li Ping'an bowed and said, "We admire your dedication to the country and its people. Do you have any good ideas, sir?"

"There's no good solution to speak of, only a solution that's not really a solution."

Official Liang slammed his teacup down, his gaze sweeping over the two brothers with a hint of authority. "In recent years, I've observed a surge of new wealthy farmers and small landlords in the city. These people, thanks to my effective governance, have managed to amass some extra wealth. In times of national crisis, every citizen has a responsibility. They should also do their part for Yunshui County and for the disaster victims throughout the city."

He said casually, "Here's what we'll do. Starting today, a new 'snow disaster emergency tax' will be added for farmers in the city with more than 30 mu of farmland. The tax rate... let's say 30%. You two will handle this matter."

Upon hearing this, Li Pingfu's face darkened. He was about to speak when Li Pingan stopped him with a look.

Li Ping'an could easily understand the hidden meaning behind Liang Xianguan's words.

This is not disaster relief at all; it is clearly using the guise of disaster relief to make an example of the Li family, both to enrich themselves and to suppress the Li family's growing influence.

Those so-called "newly rich peasants and small landlords" mostly got rich through the channels of the Li family's martial arts school and escort agency, or by learning new agricultural techniques from the Li family. Liang Xianguan's knife, seemingly aimed at them, actually struck at the very foundation of the Li family.

This is a conspiracy.

“My lord,” Li Ping’an said with difficulty, trying to salvage the situation, “is this move… a bit too hasty? We are currently in the midst of a snow disaster, and the people are already suffering. If we increase taxes further, it may incite public resentment.”

"Public resentment?" Liang Xianguan sneered, a hint of suspicious anxiety flashing in his eyes. "What? Registrar Li, do you think there's something wrong with my decision, or do you think... your Li family's prestige in Yunshui County is now enough to sway public opinion?"

A sense of impending doom instantly enveloped the entire back room.

Li Pingfu's fists were clenched so tightly they turned white.

"Big brother!" Li Ping'an called out softly, shaking his head slightly at Li Pingfu.

He took a deep breath, bowed again, and lowered his head even further: "My lord, please calm your anger. It was my slip of the tongue. Your subordinate... obeys."

"Hmph, that's pretty much it."

Official Liang nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand, saying, "Go, and remember, what I want is results. If you don't do it well, you know the consequences."

The two brothers left the inner room, looking at each other in silence, each with a heavy weight pressing on their hearts.

"This is outrageous!" Li Pingfu finally managed to squeeze out those four words through gritted teeth after walking for a long time.

"He was just testing our limits."

Li Ping'an's eyes were dark and unfathomable. "Although we have been humble and subservient, our rapid development in recent years has made him feel threatened. Moreover, for some reason, he has become increasingly suspicious in recent years, often scolding the county magistrate and assistant magistrate. Could it be that he has gone mad from his cultivation?"

The two walked in the wind and snow, their backs looking particularly heavy.

Compromise can only bring temporary peace. Liang Xianguan's suspicion and greed are like a sword hanging over one's head, ready to fall at any moment.

…………

Lingshan Cave.

Li Pingcan looked at the panel.

[You've successfully planted 40000 saplings, raising your Druid level to LV9!]

You have acquired a new skill: plant growth.

Seeing the long-awaited upgrade notification, Li Pingcan's tense mood finally eased a bit. Three years, a full three years, this quota of 40,000 trees—it was truly hard-won, taking time out of his busy schedule to plant them!
Fortunately, the returns were good.

He turned his attention to the brand-new skill, his favorite Druid skill!
[Plant Growth: You can infuse a plant with pure natural energy, greatly promoting its growth in a short period of time, and there is a certain chance to stimulate its potential superior characteristics, or even cause it to mutate and transform into a spirit plant.]

"Targeted growth stimulation can even transform a spiritual plant?" Li Pingcan's eyes lit up instantly.

For an ordinary plant cultivator, cultivating a plant requires decades of painstaking effort, meticulous care, and also depends on favorable timing and location.

And as long as he has enough magical power, he can theoretically "mass produce" spiritual plants in an assembly line manner!
A thought immediately popped into his mind.

"That seed that looks like a lump of black coal!"

On a whim, he arrived at the mulberry tree, where the mysterious black seeds he had acquired from the black market were located.

For three years, no matter how much divine blessing he received and how much he was nourished by the life force of the mulberry tree, this guy remained as stubborn and unyielding as a rock in a latrine, never sprouting a single bud.

Li Pingcan once thought he had misjudged the situation and bought a piece of junk. But today, he decided to give it one last chance.

He crouched down, extended his finger, and gently touched the soil where the seed was, unleashing the natural magical power within his body.

"Plant growth!"

A rich, almost tangible emerald green light emanated from his fingertips, like a fountain of life, instantly enveloping the soil.

This time, there was finally a response!

Upon contact with this pure life energy, the black seed trembled violently, as if a soul that had been dormant for a thousand years had been suddenly awakened.

(End of this chapter)