Chapter 15: Chapter 15: I’m Afraid of Catching Cold from the Chicken

Translator: 549690339

“Not easy at all, finally got another chance!”

After half a month, looking at the empty courtyard, Feng Qing’an couldn’t help but feel tearful. If either of his parents were home, he would have no chance to set his sights on the chickens and ducks.

Fortunately, their family business has been expanding, so all he needed was patience to wait for another opportunity.

“Last time it was a chicken, this time let’s pick a duck, to make it fair!”

Feng Qing’an rubbed his hands, hopped into the duck pen, and quickly picked up a large duck by the neck amidst the gaggle’s squawking noises.

“This time it shouldn’t be as disastrous as the last one!”

Although he carefully reflected on the failures of last time, Feng Qing’an didn’t hold much hope for success this time. He was already prepared for another failure. All the kitchenware was cleaned, and the firewood was even stuffed into the stove, all set up.

Woof! Woof!

The slightly grown puppy, Xiao Heizi, was twirling around Feng Qing’an’s feet. Its little tail was wagging happily as it knew that it was going to enjoy a delicious treat with its young master. Perhaps it couldn’t get the meat, but the bones would be all theirs.

“Go, hide in a corner. Don’t embarrass yourself like last time!”

Holding the struggling duck, Feng Qing’an put it into the prepared wooden basin. He held his breath and once again integrated his spiritual Qi, skilfully injecting it into the duck.

This time, he even tried to use his soul power to guide the spiritual Qi into the flesh and blood of the duck. Unfortunately, this step was still too foreign to him, so

Bang!

However, compared to last time, Feng Qing’an has made substantial progress. Even before the duck inflated and exploded, he had already opened his eyes and put the prepared pot lid onto the wooden basin. Feeling the strong impact under his hand, he very calmly removed the bloody lid.

“I’ll make a pot of old duck soup tonight!”

Under the setting sun, the slanted rays of golden light shone into the Feng family’s courtyard. It should have been a harmonious scene if not ruined by a thunderous shout.

“Feng Qing’an, you messed with my chickens again!”

“Not at all, I’m stewing duck soup this time, mom, you give it a taste. I guess the flavor should have improved a lot from last time. I didn’t put in much salt.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to go into the kitchen? Why are you back there again?”

Yin Shi was somewhat agitated. It’s not a festival, yet he keeps killing chickens and ducks. Who could stand this?

“I couldn’t let it go!”

“You can’t let it go? So you ruin the ducks I work so hard to raise. You constantly cause trouble, you money-wasting brat. Stand right there!”

“Wait, don’t hit me! It hurts! Mom! I was wrong!”

“You were wrong? Then kneel down right now. You’re not allowed to get up until dinner.”

“Okay!”

Feng Qing’an obediently accepted his punishment. However, beneath his obedient expression, he had an entirely different thought.

“I dare you to do it again!”

…

Three days later, Yin Shi had to go out but was worried about the chickens and ducks at home. She came home early and then,

“Feng Qing’an!”

As everyone knows, when your mother yells out your full name, don’t hesitate. Run as fast as you can. This can often avoid some disasters.

“Mom, I know I was wrong! Don’t chase me!”

On the country road, Feng Qing’an was running with all his might. Each time he looked back, he could see Yin Shi, holding a broom, fiercely chasing him.

“You money-wasting brat, stop right there!”

“If you stop chasing, I’ll stop running!”

Feng Qing’an shouted loudly. Although he knew he deserved the beating, being hit with a broom did hurt. So, following his instinct to avoid harm, he decided to run first.

“What happened, Feng Qing’an’s mother? What did that boy do to make you so angry?”

An elderly man sunbathing in his yard watched the boy run past his door and then cheerfully asked Yin Shi, who was chasing with a broom in her hand.

It was indeed rare to see an adult chasing a naughty child with a broom in the village. This was a common occurrence.

However, the Feng family’s two boys were both well-known for their good manners and obedience. They gave their parents peace of mind and were always considered model children by other parents. But today, he saw the younger one upset his mother and was being chased to be beaten. How could he not watch and ask?

“This scoundrel killed another one of my chickens when I was out!”

A tired Yin Shi slowed down and replied irately.

“Feng Qing’an’s mother, your eldest son is already the top scholar, and your family is wealthy and honorable. Are you still lacking chickens and ducks?”

The old man was confused. If the children of the poor families in the village randomly slaughtered chickens and ducks, he could understand why the parents chased them. But for this family with at least several hundred acres of land, what’s the big deal about chickens and ducks?

“But this scoundrel kills a chicken or duck every now and then to ‘practice his culinary skills!'”

Yin Shi said resentfully, raising so many chickens and ducks wasn’t easy, and yet here they were just being wasted away.

“Practicing culinary skills? He deserves a beating!”

On hearing this, the old man immediately nodded in agreement. A scholar’s younger brother shouldn’t be involved in cooking matters. He should be focusing on his studies, achieving something and making his family proud.

The Feng family, with a top scholar within 10 li of Fengjia Port, had brought indirect benefits to these villagers. Like his eldest grandchild’s marriage arrangement with a girl from a nearby village, which was initially not going well. The moment they heard their village had a top scholar, the marriage was immediately settled. It was said their village had a scholarly aura.

“Feng Qing’an’s mother, go chase him! You have to make him see the error of his ways!”

“Enjoy your sunbathing, old man. I’m off to catch that boy!”

…

“Feng Qing’an, why is there one less chicken in the chicken coop?”

“It’s here!”

Feng Qing’an proudly showed Yin Shi the perfectly plucked chicken in his hand.

After slaughtering more than a dozen chickens and ducks, he was finally able to make sure they didn’t explode. Although he still couldn’t keep them alive, it was a leap of progress compared to the beginning.

“You killed another one of my chickens!”

Yin Shi looked at her disappointing son emotionlessly. Over the past two months, she only felt weary. She couldn’t figure out how her chickens and ducks had offended her son so much that he was so relentless.

“Ah, no, mom, let me explain. The chicken flew out on its own. I chased it all the way to the pond by Goudan’s house and caught it.”

“So how did the chicken become like this?”

“The chicken fell into the water. I was afraid it might catch a cold, so I plucked all its feathers. I plan to put it in some hot water to warm it up.”

“Hmm, stay right there!”