"I'm not going to sell you."
Wan Zheng calmly set the mud bowl on the side of his bed, and he thought the child would stop immediately when he heard what had been said.
However, the boy was so preoccupied with his woeful begging and tears that he seemed to have misunderstood and sobbed even more.
Between pearls of sorrow and a choked voice, the boy kept on saying that his father could sell him instead of his little brothers.
He insisted that he was much more sensible and smarter than the others.
Wan Zheng understands from the original body owner's memory that what the boy is saying is actually true.
This new child of his is much sensible, smarter, and sharper-minded than the rest of his siblings.
That's why he could even offer himself to be sold, in order to save his little brothers from their abusive father.
What a pitiful child.
Looking down at the small one on his knees, sobbing at the top of his lungs, Wan Zheng did not dare to comfort him or say anything more.
He let the boy vent first, hiccupping here and there.
As his gaze wandered to the oil lamp on the table, its yellowish-red flame giving light to the room, it suddenly flickered and almost died out.
He thought it would soon go out, but rather he noticed that its fire seemed to grow higher and stronger, which made him frown.
Before Wan Zheng could check whether he was imagining things, the door suddenly burst open with a much stronger push.
Both turned their attention to whoever was rushing in, yet the newcomer froze.
"Young Master Zheng..."
It seemed they weren't expecting to see Wan Zheng sitting there.
"Brother Zheng...my Brother-in-law! I… I'm so glad… glad you're alive!" A weak, forced laugh escaped.
The person's throat almost choked as they grew so nervous that their gaze darted nervously, unable to meet Wan Zheng's eyes.
After recognizing who the person calling out to him could be, given the brother-in-law identity, Wan Zheng understood.
It was Mu Ruying's eldest brother from her natal family, Mu Yanying.
"It's good, it's good that you're alive, brother-in-law." Mu Yanying's voice tried to sound somewhat joyful, yet it could not mask his unease. A lump seemed to form in his throat, and one of his fists had hardened at his side.
As an honest farmer, he could not fully hide his dissatisfaction toward the original body owner.
Mu Yanying was certainly not happy that the other party was still here, and still breathing.
Wan Zheng noticed all of the other party's little movements but didn't take them personally. He wasn't the original Wan Zheng, anyway.
The hatred of this person, or anyone else in the future, had nothing to do with him.
Mu Yanying scratched nervously at the back of his neck. "Brother-in-law… you…"
"Mnn, I am unharmed, though as you can see, my head bleeds. Still, your sister is hardly strong enough to best a man of my cultivation. A mortal like her cannot hope to kill me." Wan Zheng replied not to ease his brother-in-law's emotions or cause him discomfort.
It was simply a matter of fact.
He chose to use the original body owner's identity as a cultivator as an excuse, so that his supposed wife would not be blamed too harshly for hurting her husband
Wan Zheng carefully moved the child from his legs and set him aside.
Mu Yanying looked at his second eldest nephew with a worried expression.
He saw that the child had been crying and couldn't help thinking that the boy's father had beaten him again.
"Where's Ruying? Did she call you back here?"
"Young Master Zheng, Ruying didn't mean to do it. She wouldn't dare to hit you, she's probably scared… and my sister is two weeks pregnant you see." Mu Yanying spoke pleadingly, trying to reason with a small measure of courage in his voice.
He even stepped closer, gathering his courage before attempting again with his words to convince Wan Zheng not to be angry with his younger sister.
"Please… don't be angry with Ruying. She's still young, and she's always been a good, obedient wife to you. I… I hope, my brother-in-law, young master Zheng won't take tonight too much to heart."
"Brother-in-law, no need to worry. I won't be angry. I was drunk earlier."
Wan Zheng replied, saying no more as he stepped out of the room.
He was well aware that the original body owner would never apologize.
Additionally, he could not reveal that the original Wan Zheng was gone and that his outsider soul was occupying this body.
It was a secret that no one should know until he died in this world.
After all, he discovered that this world was not merely an ancient one like the past Earth.
Wan Zheng realized it was a cultivation world, full of immortals, gods, demons, and beasts alongside ordinary mortals.
This was the kind of story his nephew liked to talk about in their office, so he had to be careful about revealing his true identity.
Wan Zheng merely glanced at the full moon in the night sky and walked slowly, surveying his new surroundings more carefully.
Thanks to the moon's bright light, it was not too dark.
There were two mud houses. His room was connected to Mu Ruying's and the child's rooms, forming a small cluster.
The kitchen stood apart from the toilet, which was just a short walk away from the house.
The whole place was shabby, sparsely furnished ans only a few belongings scattered around.
Entering the kitchen side, he saw that the water jar was only half full.
There was no white rice, just a few discolored, coarse grains left.
Not even salt, no oil, and the firewood stockpile wouldn't last a week.
What could this family even eat?
They were too poor, painfully poor.
This house is a poor man's home, and he is that poor man who would soon be its master.
Having his current identity as both a scumbag and a poor man with a wife and five sons, Wan Zheng can't help but frown deeply.
This is not how he should be living, it's not a proper life for him. He must do something about it as soon as possible tomorrow.
"Mother!"
"Ah Yan!"