The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 49 A Well-Off Family Fortune

The giant snake didn't take it seriously. After climbing up, it rubbed against Chu Xun's head and then spat out a small piece of gold from its mouth.

"Where did you pick this up from?" Chu Xun asked, taking it from his hand.

The giant snake couldn't speak; it just hissed and flicked its tongue at him.

If other villagers saw this, they would be scared half to death.

There was a rustling sound in the field, and more field mice poked their heads out.

Rabbits and pheasants, hopping or flying.

There was also a toad the size of a washbasin, which leaped more than ten meters away and obediently squatted down at Chu Xun's feet.

Like the great snake, it spat out a fish bone it was holding in its mouth.

Although it is fish bone, it is crystal clear, like jade.

Chu Xun bent down to pick it up. The gifts that the animals brought were things that ordinary people could never see.

It's strange and odd; now there are several boxes piled up at home, specifically for storing them.

A large flock of crows flapped their wings and landed on the branches of trees by the field.

Chu Xun chuckled. These beasts were already used to taking advantage of the spiritual rain, and knowing that he was going to turn the soil today, they all came.

Chu Xun wasn't stingy either, and reached out to form a hand seal.

Rain Technique +1

【Rainfall Technique 41003/100000: Drives water vapor to gather over a large area, with control over slow movement and the amount of rainfall】

The gentle rain fell, and the livestock opened their mouths wide to suck the rainwater into their bellies.

Even the giant snake nudged Chu Xun's face before quickly sliding down and then climbing up the water buffalo's legs to soak up the rain.

The water buffalo paused for a moment, turned its head, blinked its huge eyes, flapped its ears, and then slowly pulled the plow down again.

Seeing how well these animals got along, Chu Xun's smile grew even wider.

There are some things that cannot be told to others, or even seen by others.

He only truly felt relaxed when he was with these animals.

After continuously using his spiritual soil magic to "plow" a full eight acres of land, Chu Xun finally stopped.

Knowing he was going back, the livestock cackled and chirped, then hopped and ran off into the distance.

Once the giant snake had swum into the forest, Chu Xun flipped over and jumped onto the water buffalo's back, patting its head: "Let's go home."

The water buffalo swished its tail and continued walking home at a leisurely pace.

Chu Xun's body swayed back and forth on it, feeling quite comfortable.

The problem is that the buffalo hair is too coarse and stiff; if you wear thin pants, it pricks your buttocks and makes them itchy.

Upon entering the village, everyone he met waved to Chu Xun.

"Ah Xun, come over for dinner tonight! Your sister-in-law has stewed a big pot of cured pork and cabbage!"

"Brother Xun, the popcorn recipe you gave me last time really worked! Let's take some back and eat it together with Anxiu!"

"Brother Xun, what happened between Tang Sanzang and the Seven Fairies? Want to come over to your house tonight and find out?"

Chu Xun rode on the ox's back, greeting him with a cheerful laugh, his throat hoarse from talking all the way.

When he got home, he saw Zhang Anxiu lying on the table counting silver.

Seeing Chu Xun return, Zhang Anxiu's eyes lit up, and she waved to him, "Brother Xun, come quick! This year's rent is even higher than last year's!"

Chu Xun walked over with a smile and kissed her thick lips: "You finished collecting so quickly? I thought you'd be back later."

Although they were husband and wife, Chu Xun's actions were always so bold that Zhang Anxiu glanced shyly towards the door.

Fortunately, the women in the village didn't see it.

Otherwise, they'd be so envious of them!

In recent years, Chu Xun has bought several shops in the town, which has enabled him to purchase more farmland.

In addition, some families had too many children and were overwhelmed by the population tax, so they had to sell land to pay off their debts.

Chu Xun was quick to pay, never haggling over prices as long as they were fair, and people were willing to sell their land to him.

Today, the farmland under his name is nearly 300 mu.

Although the vast majority of them were rented to tenants, only 40% was collected as rent.

However, after all the calculations, he still managed to earn nearly a thousand taels of silver.

The dozen or so shops in the town also earned a considerable income.

Some people have already started saying that Master Chu's family has so much money that they can't spend it all.

This is obviously an exaggeration. Only the people of Songguo Village know how difficult it was for Chu Xun to go from an orphan who grew up on two acres of land and relied on the charity of many families to his current wealth.

With the removal of Wang Erlai and his gang of scoundrels, other scoundrels have also been dealt with in recent years.

Zheng Xiuwen changed Tang Shijun's appeasement policy. When he encountered someone who acted like a rogue and didn't take farming seriously, he would directly drag them away and give them ten lashes.

Those who dare to cause trouble will be punished with light caning or imprisonment.

The atmosphere in Zhangnan County was quickly rectified, and few dared to misbehave anymore.

Whenever Zhang Anxiu went to collect rent, the tenants would obediently put the already prepared rent into their money bags.

Zhang Anxiu then presented a large piece of cured meat as if it were a treasure, and said with a grin, "Ah Qiao's father smoked it the year before last, and insisted that I bring a piece back for you to try."

After a pause, Zhang Anxiu added, "I gave him money in return; it wasn't free!"

"I didn't say you were getting it for free." Chu Xun casually asked, "How's A-Qiao doing now? I heard he got punished by the teacher again?"

Ah Qiao, who is as thin as his father, is already eleven years old this year.

Perhaps it was because he heard Chu Xun say back then, "Reading ten thousand books is like traveling ten thousand miles."

He would often go to the county government office to eavesdrop, traveling dozens of miles back and forth.

He was beaten several times after the teacher found out, but he still didn't change.

The old, white-haired teacher, seeing his love of learning, gradually stopped paying attention to him, whether out of pity or something else.

But you can't get too close, otherwise your palms will still get a beating.

"It's fine, he's happy to take the beating," Zhang Anxiu said.

"That's fine then."

Just then, a voice came from outside: "Ah Xun".

Village chief Li Shoutian, leaning on his cane, pushed open the courtyard gate and came in.

Last month, it rained, and Li Shoutian slipped and fell in front of his house. His right leg has not recovered yet, and he has to walk with crutches.

Zhang Anxiu quickly went over to help him up, and Li Shoutian said with a smile, "It's nothing, he's just not fully recovered yet."

That's what he said, but he's getting old and his health isn't what it used to be.

After being helped to sit down by Zhang Anxiu, Li Shoutian glanced at the silver coins on the table and clicked his tongue: "In terms of wealth, your family is getting more and more prosperous. Even the richest families in the county town might not be able to collect this much rent."

"It's all thanks to you having Xun Ge reclaim thirty acres of wasteland back then, otherwise we wouldn't have made our fortune so quickly," Zhang Anxiu said.

Li Shoutian was both amused and exasperated: "You little rascal, you still hold grudges."

Back then, he gave Chu Xun thirty acres of wasteland, which infuriated Zhang Anxiu, and he still remembers it to this day.

But there was really no other way at that time. He had just become the village chief when the able-bodied men in the village were either killed or injured in a fight over water.

If anyone could contribute a few more acres, it would be a huge help!

"Village Chief, would you like to have a drink here tonight? Have Anxiu get some snacks to go with the drinks, and call Brother Guangmao over too," Chu Xun said.

"Then you two chat for a while." Anxiu obediently went out the door.

Chu Xun sat down next to Li Shoutian and asked, "The village chief came today, surely not to ask me to reclaim wasteland again, is he?"

This was obviously a joke, Li Shoutian laughed and said, "With your current wealth, why would you need to cultivate the land yourself?"

"However, I'm here today to discuss something serious with you."

Li Shoutian's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "I've heard that a lot of bandits have come to the surrounding counties recently, and many villages and towns have suffered. Our village also needs to be on guard."