Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World

Chapter 38 - 38: I Am the Poor One, Why Not Lend Me Some Grain

At Jiang Fanʼs invitation, Aunt Liu, half-believing and half-doubting, also entered the house.

Of course, Jiang Fan went ahead of Aunt Liu, entering the house first, then heading to the kitchen, cellar, and other places, putting all the food in the Space Ring.

In this way, even if Aunt Liu entered his home, she wouldnʼt find any food.

”This.”

After Aunt Liu entered the house, she glanced around the kitchen and also looked at the cellar, but indeed found not a single grain of food, so poor that not even a mouse could be found, which could be described as barren.

To be honest, although her family was indeed struggling, compared to Jiang Fanʼs home, she didnʼt know how much wealthier they were, at least they had food.

Under these circumstances, this boy was so poor that he could only eat dirt.

”Aunt Liu, I believe youʼve also seen the situation at my house.”

”There truly isnʼt a single grain of rice left at home.”

”These days, I havenʼt had a good haul, not catching a single fish.”

”In fact, I was planning to borrow food from the neighbors.”

”Since Aunt Liu is here, Aunt Liu also knows the situation at my house.”

”I hope Aunt Liu can lend me a few pounds of grain to help me through this tough time, and Iʼll surely repay double in the future.”

Jiang Fan said sincerely.

What?!

Upon hearing this, Aunt Liuʼs face turned green. She originally intended to come to Jiang Fanʼs house to take advantage, borrowing some food.

Now, not only did she not get any food, she was expected to give some away.

Who could endure such a thing?

If she really lent it, her husband would tear her apart.

”Ahem, Xiaojiang, I know your family is in a tough spot.”

”But Aunt Liuʼs house is also struggling, with seven or eight people and no food at home.”

”Oh, I suddenly remembered thereʼs something unfinished at home, I wonʼt disturb you further.”

Aunt Liu quickly made an excuse and wasnʼt planning to exchange pleasantries with Jiang Fan, directly running away, as if afraid Jiang Fan would come to her house to borrow food.

Seeing Aunt Liuʼs fleeing figure, Su Weiwei looked at Jiang Fan with astonishment, because she clearly remembered the kitchen and cellar at home were stocked full of food.

But in the blink of an eye, these foods disappeared completely, what kind of trick did her husband play?

”Itʼs a secret, youʼll know in the future.”

Jiang Fan smiled slightly, not intending to reveal the Space Ringʼs secret for now.

After all, for Su Weiwei, this was an immortalʼs method.

If Su Weiwei knew, she probably wouldnʼt be able to sleep well day and night.

It might be revealed at any time.

So itʼs better to wait until his ability advances further to tell Su Weiwei.

By then he would have the ability to protect himself and Su Weiwei, even if exposed, it wouldnʼt be too much of a problem.

”Mhm.”

Su Weiwei nodded very obediently.

Although she had a lot of doubts now, since her husband said it was a secret, she didnʼt need to pursue it too much, after all, her husband wouldnʼt harm her.

”But we do start the fire too many times every day.”

”Starting the fire three times a day makes the villagers think we have a lot of food.”

”Although we do have a lot of food, we canʼt sustain lending it.”

”In the future, weʼll only start the fire once a day, making all the food for the day in one go.”

Jiang Fan said solemnly.

He had realized this loophole.

In the countryside, you can hide anything except the number of times you start the fire.

Every time you cook, you need to burn wood, the smoke is conspicuous, and anyone with a discerning eye will notice.

Especially in this difficult time, an average household starts the fire once a day, which is already significant.

If you start it three times, the household must be wealthy, storing a lot of food.

Because nowadays, fishermen eat twice a day or even once.

If they eat three times, it must be a rich family.

”Husband, I understand.”

Su Weiwei nodded.

She also felt sheʼd been living too comfortably, being able to eat full meals every day.

But sheʼd forgotten that others in the village were still going hungry.

Some people couldnʼt even have one meal a day.

Now it could be said that their family was one of the wealthiest in Osmanthus Village.

”Iʼll go out to borrow food later.”

”I believe by then, no one will come to me to borrow food.”

Jiang Fan said, as the saying goes, be the first to strike to gain the upper hand.

To maintain his poor persona, he needed to go from house to house to borrow food.

In this way, he would appear so poor that no one would dare come to him to borrow food.

It could be said that this also created an indestructible image for himself.

As long as he was poor and barren, no one would dare to ask him for money.

......

An hour later.

The entire Osmanthus Village knew about Jiang Fan going around borrowing food.

But each villager had a difficult look and rejected Jiang Fanʼs request.

After all, their families were also struggling, and they had no spare food to lend.

”No way, is Xiaojiang really borrowing food all over?”

”Didnʼt they start the fire two or three times a day before? The family was quite well-off.”

”How did they end up having to borrow food?”

Many villagers felt surprised, not expecting Jiang Fan to be this poor.

”Sigh, that was just putting on airs.”

”Youngsters donʼt know how to plan, and eat a lot every day.”

”Eating away all their stored food long ago.”

”I went to Xiaojiangʼs house before, it was utterly barren, not even a grain of rice.”

”Even mice arenʼt willing to roam around his house.”

”He even tried to borrow food from my house, but with our seven or eight people, how would we have extra food.”

”If this continues, his wife might run away.”

Aunt Liu was a big mouth, immediately talking about what she had seen at Jiang Fanʼs house.

She despised Jiang Fan.

A young man, with hands and feet, yet living in such a manner.

”Alas, after Old Jiang died, who knew the Jiang Family would end up like this.”

”Thereʼs no help, the young manʼs fishing skills are still lacking, without a catch, wouldnʼt he just eat away his reserves?”

”If this continues, he might starve to death.”

”Isnʼt it? Iʼve heard grain prices have risen another 30%, at this rate, who can afford it.”

”Plus, the Dragon King Gang plans to raise the monthly salary, practically trying to kill us.”

”If we truly canʼt survive, weʼll join the Red Eyebrow Army, opposing the government.”

”Shut up, thatʼs rebellion, not something you just do.”

The villagers discussed among themselves.

Each sighed, faces full of worry, not knowing what to do.

In the following days, Jiang Fan became like a plague in Osmanthus Village; everyone quickly left upon seeing Jiang Fan, fearing heʼd ask to borrow food.

This led to Jiang Fan and Su Weiwei being completely isolated.

But for Jiang Fan, this wasnʼt necessarily a bad thing.

After all, in such chaotic times, emotions were the least needed.

If the relationship was too good, and something happened to the other party, would you help?

If you did, you might get involved yourself.

In times of poverty, you should tend to your own needs; in times of wealth, assist the world.

In such a time, being able to keep your family safe was already quite commendable.

Where would there be energy to care for others?