A glimpse of opportunity: Start by marrying a mermaid bride.

【Opportunity Name: Private Transaction】

[Symptom Hint: This is just an ordinary transaction, but it will be very helpful to you. Symptom Level: Ordinary]

[Opportunity Description: Feng Guiqin has accepted a dirty deal. This evening, in the woods beside the stream, Feng Guiqin will meet with Yang Sanli to complete the transaction. Please seize the opportunity!]

Ok?

Hearing the opportunity notification in his ear, Zheng Xuan's heart stirred. The woods by the ditch, Yang Sanli, and the dirty deal... Could it be...?

He looked at Zheng Daguo, wondering if the one wearing a green hat wasn't Feng Guiqin, but...

Zheng Xuan glanced at Zheng Daguo, who felt a chill run down his spine. When he saw Zheng Xuan looking at him, he angrily said, "What are you looking at? Don't think I won't hit you just because your aunt is here."

Zheng Xuan sneered inwardly upon hearing this, but quickly dismissed the idea. He figured Feng Guiqin's meeting with Yang Sanli probably wasn't to cuckold Zheng Daguo.

Because Yang Sanli is a rather interesting person. He was originally supposed to be her maternal uncle, the one that the fisherwoman was terrified of.

There must be something going on between Feng Guiqin and Yang Sanli, and it's also a matter of chance. It seems I should go and see for myself.

Zheng Xuan pondered how to seize this opportunity, while Zheng Lixia slammed a piece of paper on the table and said, "Zheng Daguo, Feng Guiqin, don't try to play tricks on me. Father's will clearly states that he left behind ninety-two silver dollars and three tiled houses. I won't pursue the matter of you secretly selling those houses, but you still won't give Xuan the thirty silver dollars he's owed."

"Then I'll have to go find Cao Baozheng. He's a witness on this will, and I don't believe no one can control you!"

After hearing Zheng Lixia's words, Feng Guiqin glanced at Zheng Daguo. Zheng Daguo was helpless; his sister was just like that, and she wouldn't tolerate any nonsense.

Feng Guiqin forced a smile and said, "Hehe, eldest sister, we're family. How did things get to the point where we need outsiders to mediate? Xiao Xuan's share of the money is with us. We're just keeping it safe for him. We'll give it to him when he has children. Otherwise, these kids will just squander it!"

Zheng Lixia looked at Feng Guiqin and said, "Ah Xuan is married now, he's an adult. What right do you have to hold his money for him? And you're waiting until he has children before you pay him back? Why don't you wait until he dies? Enough nonsense, give me the money!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Guiqin's face immediately fell. She said, "Sister, you're wrong. Would we, as parents, harm our children?"

"Give me the money!"

Zheng Lixia ignored Feng Guiqin's excuses and kept insisting on getting money. Feng Guiqin's face immediately turned extremely ugly as she said, "We don't have any money. We've given all our money to A-Jin for the martial arts school's tuition. Isn't that right, boss?"

"Yes, yes."

Zheng Daguo nodded and bowed.

Zheng Lixia glared at Zheng Daguo, then stood up. Zheng Daguo immediately said, "Sis, are you leaving?"

Zheng Lixia said, "Leave? Yes, I'll leave now. I'll take Father's will and go to the village head, then ask the whole village to judge and see if any parents have ever wronged their children like this. Ah Xuan, let's go."

"Big sister!"

Upon hearing Zheng Lixia's words, Feng Guiqin immediately exclaimed, "Elder sister, Zheng Jin is also a member of your Zheng family. Are you really going to side with him like this?"

Feng Guiqin pointed at Zheng Xuan and asked.

Zheng Lixia sneered, "If there's a stepmother, there's a stepfather. You know how you treat Ah Xuan. You parents don't care, but I, as his aunt, do. And Feng Guiqin, your father is a candidate for the next village head. If this gets out, let's see if the men of Nanhe Village can curse your Feng family to dust! Let's go!"

Zheng Lixia was quite domineering, which surprised Zheng Xuan. It is said that Zheng Lixia was a well-known big sister in the surrounding villages, and all the children in the village listened to her.

It seems this isn't just a rumor!

Thinking this, Feng Guiqin's face darkened considerably. She was truly terrified. Zheng Lixia's move was ruthless—creating public opinion. In this era of limited information, villagers still valued their reputation highly, and no one wanted to be known as a wicked stepmother.

Thinking of this, Feng Guiqin forced a smile and said, "Big sister, do we really have to be so ruthless? Our master at Ajin Martial Arts School said that Ajin has a talent for martial arts. If he succeeds in his training, which member of the Zheng family won't benefit from it?"

"Look at Zheng Xuan, he's neither good at literature nor martial arts; he'll be a useless good-for-nothing in the future. What use will he be?"

"Your Zheng family's future depends on Zheng Jinguang bringing glory to the family. You're putting us in such a difficult position now. Have you thought this through? If Ah Jin becomes successful in the future, don't say you'll disown your aunt!"

"Heh, with a mother like you, he'd never acknowledge me as his aunt. Enough with the nonsense. Thirty silver dollars. If you give it to me today, fine. But if you don't, I guarantee tomorrow the whole of Nanhe Village and Tanghe Town will know your infamous reputation!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Guiqin said, "Fine, fine, you're going to be so ruthless, huh? Here, I'll give it to him!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jin panicked and said, "Mother, he said he needs to buy elixirs to aid his martial arts practice. What am I supposed to do if you give him the money?"

Feng Guiqin looked at Zheng Jin and said, "It's alright, Qian Niang will find a way, even if it means selling everything she owns, to support you. But remember, when you become successful in the future, and those two ask you for help, you must not be soft-hearted."

"Yes, I remember, Mother!"

Watching this mother and son put on their act of "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river," Zheng Xuan felt like cursing. "I'm the victim here, okay? You swallowed the inheritance left to you by the old man, sold the house he left you, and now it's like you're the victims. This mother and son are really obsessed."

Zheng Lixia ignored all of that and looked at the mother and son, saying, "You two continue acting, give me the money."

Zheng Lixia took the bag of money directly from Zheng Daguo's hand, counted it, and found that thirty yuan was not a small amount. Then she tossed it to Zheng Xuan and said, "Let's go."

Having lost her money, Feng Guiqin was heartbroken and angrily shouted, "Zheng Daguo, are you even a man? Are you just going to stand by and watch them bully your wife and son like this?"

Zheng Daguo was speechless upon hearing this. Feng Guiqin glared at him and cursed him as a good-for-nothing. Then, watching Zheng Lixia and Zheng Xuandao leave, she yelled, "One is childless, and the other is a good-for-nothing! Go buy your coffins, bah!"

The term "family without descendants" refers to Zheng Lixia. Although Zheng Lixia appears fierce, she also has her own hardships. She only has one daughter in her life, and in this era, a family with only one daughter is called "family without descendants."

As for the good-for-nothing, that would naturally be Zheng Xuan.

Feng Guiqin cursed with venting her anger, and Zheng Lixia and Zheng Xuan both heard it. Zheng Xuan saw that Zheng Lixia's eyes were red; that phrase about having no descendants had truly struck a nerve. At this moment, Zheng Xuan said, "Aunt, she..."

Zheng Lixia wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes and said, "Let her curse. It's not like she'll lose anything. Just get your money back."

As she spoke, Zheng Lixia turned to look at Zheng Xuan and said, "You should live a good life. Grandpa is gone, and your parents are unreliable. If you need anything in the future, come to the city and find your aunt."

As they were talking, a carriage arrived. The aunt said, "The carriage your uncle hired has arrived, so I'll be going now."

Zheng Xuan escorted his aunt to the carriage. His aunt looked at him and said, "Xuan, you have to be strong, you have to be strong..."