Before leaving, Butler Sun said to Su Sanlang, “Brother Su, we’ll leave first today. We have to bring back such a big tiger quickly. If you get anything good in the future, just send a letter to the Sun residence.”
Butler Sun felt that with such a sum of money, Su Sanlang probably would not have to hunt tigers again. He should still be able to hunt some small things, but looking at his injuries, he might not go hunting at all this year.
It was a pity. After all, the wild animals that Su Sanlang sent over were always top-notch.
“Okay, take your time.”
Su Sanlang sent Butler Sun out. Madam Zhao supported him while Su Chong and Su Hua followed him.
Butler Sun felt that there was a story behind this family, but he and Su Sanlang were not close enough for him to ask anything. He only told Su Sanlang to rest well before he left.
After sending Butler Sun off, Su Sanlang heaved a sigh of relief. When he returned to the room with Madam Zhao, he said to her, “Darling, we’ve been disturbing Doctor Wu for long enough. Now that we have money, go and invite the village chief over. Tell him that we want to buy fields and build a house.”
“Okay, Sanlang. Rest well. I’ll go.”
Madam Zhao told Su Sanlang to lie down and rest.
Su Sanlang was indeed exhausted and fell asleep quickly.
Madam Zhao called Su Chong and Su Hua over. She stroked her two sons’ hair and said, “Chong, Hua, stay at home. If you’re tired, sleep together with Daddy and Sister, okay?”
Su Chong and Su Hua nodded obediently.
Su Sanmei said to Madam Zhao, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Dad and my brothers.”
……
Madam Zhao smiled gently at Su Sanmei, stroked her hair, and got up to leave.
Madam Zhao’s injury was on her arm. Although it still hurt, she felt that this pain was nothing. Everything was worth it.
Su Sanmei went to make medicine and porridge.
Before she left, she even kissed Su Xiaolu and told her to sleep obediently. She would come back to her after she made the medicine and porridge.
Su Xiaolu was always very obedient, which made Su Sanmei feel very relieved.
As soon as Su Sanmei left, Su Xiaolu opened her eyes. She was more than three months old and her body was getting strong. She was even strong enough to start crawling.
It was just tiring to move around.
She broke out in a sweat before she crawled to Su Sanlang. She put her hand to his mouth and fed him the spiritual spring water.
She leaned over Su Sanlang’s shoulder and looked into his blood-soaked left eye. Su Xiaolu’s vision blurred.
Her father must have been in a lot of pain.
Her brothers and her mother must have been in pain then, too.
This was all she could do. She hoped they would all get better soon.
After feeding Su Sanlang, Su Xiaolu gave some to her sleeping brothers. She gently kissed Su Chong and Su Hua’s cheeks and pressed her face against theirs. Su Xiaolu thought that even if they were ill for the rest of their lives, she would take care of them for the rest of their lives.
After crawling for so long, Su Xiaolu was tired. She obediently leaned against her brother and father and fell asleep.
Su Sanmei made porridge and brought a bowl to Old Wu.
“Grandpa Wu, eat quickly. Although my cooking isn’t as good as my mother’s, it’s still very delicious.”
Su Sanmei was very grateful to Old Wu. Even though Old Wu was pulling a long face even now, Su Sanmei was still smiling. She felt that Old Wu must be feeling sorry for her father.
Although Old Wu always pulled a long face, he was a good person. She could feel it.
“Okay, go take care of them. I’ll treat them later. They’ll heal quicker.”
Old Wu said coldly.
Su Sanmei smiled happily. “Thank you, Grandpa Wu.”
Su Sanmei ran out happily. She still had to take care of her father and brothers.
Old Wu looked at the little girl’s back and sighed.
In the afternoon, Madam Zhao invited the village chief over. When Old Master Wang walked into the house, Madam Zhao had already woken Su Sanlang up and was helping him sit up.
Old Master Wang sighed and said to Su Sanlang, “Sanlang, your wife said that you want to buy land and build a house. Our village now has six acres of farmland, three acres of high-grade farmland, and three acres of medium-grade farmland. As for land, we have three acres of high-grade land and five acres of medium-grade land.”
“The price of an acre of high-grade farmland is twelve taels of silver. An acre of medium-grade farmland costs nine taels of silver.”
Old Master Wang told Su Sanlang about the locations of the lands. He felt sad when he saw that Su Sanlang only had one eye left. Why did it have to come to this?
If Su Sanlang had known how to bow his head, this would not have happened. He had beaten a tiger, but he had lost an eye. Disability was for life. No amount of money could buy back a healthy body.
However, when he thought about Old Master Su’s actions, Old Master Wang also sighed. In the end, he forced Su Sanlang into a corner. Therefore, the father and son became enemies forever.
“Uncle, I’ll buy them all.”
Su Sanlang said. The medium-grade land was attached to Old Man Wu’s house. He wanted to build a house here.
The land could become good after a few years of good care.
After buying the farmlands, their family would have roots.
His lifelong pain was here, in Southern Mountain Village, but so were his roots. Su Sanlang did not want to leave.
“Alright, I’ll go get the officer to notarize the deed. Prepare the money. It’s not convenient for you either. I’ll bring the deed over tomorrow for you to sign.”
There were a total of 14 acres of fields and land. It would cost Su Sanlang more than a hundred taels to buy them all. Everyone said that the tiger was worth 200 to 300 taels of silver. It was probably enough for Su Sanlang to buy land and build a house.
Su Sanlang had risked his life to fight the tiger to survive, so buying land and building a house was expected.
“Alright, thank you.”
Su Sanlang nodded in agreement.
Old Master Wang stood up. Before he left, he said to Su Sanlang, “Sanlang, live well in the future. Don’t get too tense with the villagers. This won’t do you any good.”
“Thank you, Uncle. I will.”
Su Sanlang agreed. He knew this, too.
After saying everything that needed to be said, Old Master Wang went home.
The next day, the chief and the officer came together.
Su Sanlang had also paid the money. He had spent a total of 144 taels of silver on the purchase of the land. He had also paid six taels of silver to thank the hard work of the village chief and the officer. After all, they had done all the notaries for Su Sanlang.
After Su Sanlang put his handprint on the papers, the fields and land belonged to him. The fields had been turned. As long as Su Sanlang was diligent, he could plant crops now.
Before leaving, the village chief, Old Master Wang, said to Su Sanlang, “Sanlang, are you going to hire people from the village to build the house?”
After all, Su Sanlang was going to stay in the village. Old Master Wang was actually hinting at Su Sanlang to build a good relationship with the villagers.
Su Su Sanlang immediately understood. He nodded. “Yes. When I’m better, I’m going to hire others to help me build the house by the end of the year.”