Chapter 129: Stone Bamboo Village

In the mountain forests after the rain, mist lingered, enveloping the distant peaks. Half-hidden in the clouds, the mountains’ full majesty was obscured, leaving an air of mystery.

The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the mist, casting the wilderness in the soft hues of an ink wash painting.

Inside the wooden hut turned classroom, the “three little quails” were each covered with a thin blanket, sprawled haphazardly on the ground in deep slumber.

Gu Ning’an stepped out quietly. The unique, fresh scent of the rain-soaked mountains made him instinctively take a deep breath.

At the same time, the kitchen door opened. A weary-looking Li Fangzhang emerged and, upon seeing Gu Ning’an, quickly approached and clasped his hands in greeting. “Mr. Gu, thank you so much for yesterday. Those three kids didn’t trouble you, did they?”

“Not at all,” Gu Ning’an waved his hand with a smile. “They were very well-behaved. And you? Have you made up your mind?”

Hearing this, Li Fangzhang nodded firmly. “I’ve decided. I’ll give it one last try. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll abandon the idea entirely.”

“Good.” Gu Ning’an smiled. “Follow your heart. Having such a great aunt is truly your blessing.”

“That’s for sure!” Li Fangzhang nodded again, adding, “My aunt is absolutely amazing. By the way, would you like to join me for breakfast, Mr. Gu?”

“Thank you, Teacher Li, but I—” Before Gu Ning’an could finish his sentence, an angry shout erupted from the forest trail outside.

“Li Fangzhang! Get out here right now!”

“An enemy?” Gu Ning’an frowned.

Li Fangzhang shook his head. “Judging by the voice, it’s my aunt’s son…”

Soon enough, a young man of medium build appeared. Dressed in a short shirt and long pants, he sported a thin mustache. His face bore some resemblance to Aunt Zhou’s, but his demeanor exuded a certain unruliness.

“Lu Feng, what nonsense are you shouting this early in the morning?” Li Fangzhang’s tone turned hostile. While he tolerated his aunt, he had no intention of showing deference to Lu Feng.

With bloodshot eyes, Lu Feng stormed forward, his steps hurried. Without warning, he raised his fist and punched toward Li Fangzhang’s chest!

Li Fangzhang, being a scholar, had no chance of dodging. Caught completely off guard, he stood frozen.

Thud!

Just before the punch landed, Gu Ning’an intercepted it with a single hand, easily deflecting Lu Feng’s strike. The impact sent Lu Feng stumbling back several steps.

“Damn it!” Lu Feng steadied himself, pointing at Gu Ning’an as he shouted, “Who the hell are you to meddle in my business?”

“Speak with words, not fists,” Gu Ning’an replied calmly.

Lu Feng, knowing his strength, was stunned. The fact that Gu Ning’an had effortlessly stopped and redirected his punch left him uncertain about his chances. Deciding it wasn’t worth a fight, he resorted to verbal abuse, pointing at Li Fangzhang and launching into a tirade before finally saying, “Yesterday, what did you do to my mom? Why did she faint not long after returning home?”

“What are you talking about?” Li Fangzhang rushed forward, grabbing Lu Feng by the collar. His voice grew harsh. “What happened to my aunt? Speak!”

The furious, distorted expression on Li Fangzhang’s face was terrifying, and for a moment, even the unruly Lu Feng was cowed.

“My mom came back last night completely soaked through!”

“She said she was going to sleep as soon as she entered the house. But this morning, when I tried to wake her for breakfast, no matter what I did, she wouldn’t wake up!”

At this point, Lu Feng shoved Li Fangzhang away, spat on the ground, and continued, “The doctor is checking on her now. If anything happens to my mother… I’ll make sure you pay for it!”

“Aunt!” Li Fangzhang, now as frantic as an ant on a hot pan, paid no attention to the death threat. After pacing back and forth a few times, he turned to Gu Ning’an and said, “Sir, could I trouble you to look after the three children for a bit?”

Gu Ning’an nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Thank you, sir!” Leaving those words behind, Li Fangzhang stumbled out, rushing through the slippery mud.

“Damn it! You still dare to go see my mother? Stop right there!”

Lu Feng cursed loudly and then dashed out after him.

Creak.

The wooden classroom door swung open, revealing the “three little quails,” standing in the doorway with sleepy eyes.

Tang Zi frowned and asked, “Mr. Gu, what happened to Aunt Zhou?”

Wang Sheng, looking serious, said, “I want to go see her!”

Sun De pouted and added, “Confucius said, ‘Of all virtues, filial piety is foremost’… I want to go too.”

Gu Ning’an smiled. “The doctor is already there. Let me take you home first, and then I’ll go check on her.”

Tang Zi tilted her head and said, “Mr. Gu, our parents are away making a living and aren’t usually home. That’s why we’re staying here…”

“Well…” Gu Ning’an paused and then said, “In that case, come with me.”

…

About two li¹ from the wooden hut at the foot of the mountain lay a village called Stone Bamboo Village.

The village consisted of about a hundred households, most of their homes built from timber.

The three children, having walked the path back to the village many times with their families or with Li Fangzhang, guided Gu Ning’an along the way. They quickly arrived at Aunt Zhou’s house.

A crowd had gathered in front of the house, including several women with their children in tow. These women, seemingly born with a penchant for gossip, seized the opportunity to disparage Aunt Zhou.

Upon hearing that the usually “domineering” Aunt Zhou had encountered trouble, they were gleefully awaiting drama, their schadenfreude in full display.

Some stood, while others sat on small stools, all eagerly waiting for the spectacle to unfold.

“Ha, that Zhou Tiger! She’s always so smug, relying on her son’s rowdiness and her scholar nephew. Look at her now—getting what she deserves!”

“Exactly! Remember how that poor scholar Li Fangzhang was paraded around by her when he was little? I heard her boasting about him so much that my ears practically grew calluses!”

“She deserves it! Better if she never wakes up! The way she’d grab something to fight you just for saying a few words about her nephew—absolutely unladylike! Only Old Lu could tolerate her. Any other man would’ve thrown her out long ago!”

These spiteful words made the three children’s faces flush with anger. Wang Sheng, unable to hold back, wanted to charge forward for a fight!

Gu Ning’an quickly pulled him back, though the boy remained indignant.

Gu Ning’an turned to the children and said, “Kids, let me tell you something. Those who gossip behind others’ backs might find themselves suddenly unable to speak at all.”

As he said this, he stood not far from the group of gossiping women. They had been discreetly eyeing the handsome Mr. Gu with interest, but they hadn’t expected him to curse them.

The women, upset, were about to start yelling at him.

But to their shock, they suddenly found their mouths stuck shut as if glued together. No matter how they tried, they couldn’t open them.