Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Someone in the village noticed the commotion and had already gone to inform the family of the boy called Chubby. By the time Chubby's father and grandfather rushed over, they saw the man banging on their door.

"Who the hell are you? What's your problem causing trouble at our house?" Chubby's father hefted the hoe in his hand, ready to swing at the man.

"Ah! Feier, watch out!" Susan, who was holding the little girl and rushing over, screamed in alarm, her eyes widening at Chubby's father's movement.

Hearing his wife's warning and sensing the movement behind him, Feier instinctively sidestepped and kicked backward, striking Chubby's father squarely on the wrist.

Gis felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and the hoe flew out of his grip.

"Truly a family trait. I came here to reason with your family, but this is how you greet people?" Feier cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, no longer intending to resolve things peacefully. If not for his wife, why would he have returned to this village? Back when he came to marry, these people had called him a "useless cripple" behind his back, never sparing him a second glance.

Seeing the hoe gone, Gis raised his fist and swung at Feier. How dare this cripple hit him?

Their family patriarch, unable to stand seeing his son and grandson wronged, also raised his sickle and swung it at Feier.

If this had been Feier a few years ago—still weakened from losing his arm and recovering poorly—he might have suffered some injuries facing them. But in the past two years, their family's circumstances had improved, and his health had been restored.

If not for the missing arm, his condition would have been even better than during his military days.

With money and leisure, Feier hadn't neglected his combat skills. He and other veterans had formed a group, sparring in their free time to stay fit and relive their youthful days.

So now, facing Gis and his father, Feier could still have them howling in pain with just one arm.

"What are you all standing around for? Are you just going to let this outsider bully our kin?" Gis, his face swollen and bruised after being knocked down again, didn't dare get back up. Instead, he roared at the onlookers.

The villagers glanced at Feier, then at Gis lying on the ground, torn.

During Feier's stay in the village, they had already learned how wealthy he was and had been scheming ways to curry favor with him. Now, offending him for Gis's sake—was it worth it?

But if they did nothing, as Gis said, this man had married a woman from their village. If they didn't show him his place, would he even listen to them?

After much hesitation, egged on by the wailing of Chubby's mother and grandmother, they finally stepped forward to restrain Feier.

"Enough, you've beaten them. Don't escalate things further."

"We're all from the same clan. Gis's family is even related to Susan's. Acting like this is too disrespectful to her family."

"Just over some kid's words? Is it really worth it? As adults, we shouldn't spoil children like this. Besides, what the kid said wasn't wrong. Your family only has a daughter—that's not right."

"Maybe Susan can't have more children? Our village has plenty of good girls. You could take another wife."

"Right, take a young and pretty one to bear you a son. It won't affect your relationship with Susan."

"Exactly. When we're older, we need sons to inherit the family line. Daughters will marry out sooner or later. Giving them good food and clothes is already all they deserve."

"Oh, if you don't want more children, would you consider adopting? Our third boy is clever and obedient. If you take him in, he'll take good care of you in your old age."

The crowd, initially trying to dissuade Feier from fighting, somehow shifted the topic to his family's lack of heirs, as if not having a son was some cardinal offense.

Hearing these people already scheming to break up his household and covet his property, Feier stopped struggling to fight. He stood rigid, silent.

Seeing Feier not refute them, the villagers grew bolder, almost eager to rush home and bring their children for him to pick from.

The little girl in Susan's arms watched as her father was surrounded, listening to these kinsmen and elders say how useless she was for not being a son, how more wives should be brought into the family. Disgust and fear welled up inside her. She bit her lip, trying not to cry, but in the end, she couldn't hold back.

"Waaah! No! No other kids! Sanna will be good, won't go away! Sanna only wants Mommy and Daddy! Don't wanna be sent away!" The little girl clung tightly to her mother's neck, weeping as if her heart would break. Feier, who had been letting their madness wash over him, felt his heart clench at his daughter's cries. He could no longer keep up the act and shouldered aside the people surrounding him.

"Precious daughter, Daddy would never abandon you and Mommy. I love you both the most. You don’t have to marry—I'll take care of you forever, and everything I have will be yours." Feier circled around like a protective dog circling a wary hedgehog, but nothing could get the little hedgehog to open up.

Susan watched Feier with a knowing smirk, her lips curling. She knew him all too well—yet he'd forgotten their daughter was listening. Now he'd have to say hundreds of nice things before she'd let it go.

But with this pack of tigers, leopards, and jackals around, Susan wasn't about to let the father-daughter pair sulk for long. She knew it was just their family's playful dynamic, but what if these abnormal-minded people saw it as an "opportunity"?

"Alright, your dad just got angry at their nonsense. He’d never abandon you—you’re his little princess." Susan pried her daughter from her arms and tucked her into Feier’s embrace, letting them sort it out themselves instead of fussing around her.

Holding his sweet—well, a little smelly after running around—little girl, Feier felt nothing but contentment. Then he glared at Susan’s relatives, making his stance clear.

"That’s right. I don’t care about having a son. Susan and Shanna are enough for me. If we ever have another child, it’ll only be Susan’s. Sweetheart, if you don’t want a little brother or sister, we won’t have one. And don’t listen to their nonsense—you’re the best child, and I’m so proud of you." Feier spoke loudly at first, then, remembering something, turned to his daughter to reassure her.

Comforted by both parents, Shanna slowly calmed down, recalling how good they always were to her. Sniffling, she looked up at her father. "R-Really? Do you think I’m as good as the boys?"

Hearing her timid voice, Feier’s anger flared again. His confident, bright girl shouldn’t be scared by these fools. *Ah, it’s my fault for letting her hear that.*

"Of course! To me, you’re better than any boy. What’s so great about sons? They’re noisy and disobedient—not half as clever or sweet as you. You’re my little winter coat, my little candy." Having undergone new-style parent training at the elementary school, Feier had no shortage of heartfelt, creative praise.

Blushing under her father’s words, Shanna straightened proudly. *She* wasn’t the problem—it was these uncles. "Daddy, you’re the best in the world. I don’t hate little siblings. If you and Mommy have a baby, I’ll help take care of them, teach them to read, and we’ll both take care of you when we’re older."

Clearly, when it came to showering Dad with praise, little Shanna was just as skilled as Feier.

Listening to their "you praise me, I praise you," Susan didn’t know which one to envy more—but mostly, her heart swelled. *This* was what family should be.

The villagers, unused to such displays, were stunned into silence. When the first finally snapped out of it, they scoffed.

"Hmph, merely a daughter. What’s the point of all that praise?"

"Feier’s a fool, valuing them so much."

"How can women inherit family wealth? He’ll regret it when his fortune’s wasted."

Seeing Feier’s stance, the villagers knew they’d gain nothing. Why give him polite treatment? A man who didn’t want sons would regret it sooner or later.

Feier didn’t care what they thought. He’d already thrashed Chubby’s dad—that was venting enough anger. Now, he just wanted to leave with his family.

Looking down at Gis, still cowering by the haystack, Feier said, "What children say comes from their parents. Keep your rotten family to yourselves. Control your son—and your family’s mouths. If I hear one more word against my daughter, it won’t just be a beating."

Gis gritted his teeth in pain. *A beating is nothing?* His ribs might be broken.

Beside him, the old man trembled, eyes swollen, too furious to speak—on the verge of passing out. *What kind of bully is this? Why isn’t anyone stopping him?*

Just as the family wallowed in misery, a voice cut through.

"Hey, Harvey, when did you get back?"

"Harvey! Thank goodness you’re here—your father and brother were beaten badly!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement, sizing up Harvey—now even burlier—and the imposing Feier at the gate. *If these two clash, who’d win?*

Before Harvey could react, someone answered for him.

"Harvey, my boy! You’re finally back! Pound this scoundrel to death—he bullied us while you were gone!" His mother sobbed, stumbling toward him.