Chapter 14: The Feng Family Secret

“You know it yourself. Because of her that night, I even found something extraordinary. If that thing comes into our family, the word 'prosperous' won't even begin to describe it.”

How could he not be excited?

Setting aside everything else, the gold hidden in that secret chamber alone could provide him with enough food and clothing to last a lifetime.

Not to mention those things that previously only existed in hearsay.

He had never even seen them before.

Hearing this, Mother Feng smiled as well. “You’re right. It seems she truly does have some luck, it’s just a pity she arrived so late.” She turned around to face her husband.

“Tell me, when will we be able to get hold of the things my sister left abroad back then?” Years ago, her sister had eloped abroad, and later, for some reason, she had returned heavily pregnant.

She didn't dare return to see her parents, so instead, she came to find her. In the end, out of necessity, she could only find a place in the countryside of Haishi to settle her.

If it weren't for that child of hers being so useless, she wouldn't have adopted Feng Miaomiao.

“Forget about that thing. The restrictions within the country are very strict right now; we can only wait for the future. However, the things your sister gave us are almost used up. I imagine the things she kept abroad must be exceptionally precious as well. There will be opportunities in the future.”

He was also waiting; this was the main reason why he was willing to raise Feng Miaomiao.

“True. If we don't get the chance, then we'll let Liguo go get it when the time comes. We certainly can't let someone else benefit from it.” Mother Feng had not forgotten the aura of nobility her sister possessed when she returned.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't envious, but seeing her sister's end, that bit of envy had vanished, replaced by a sense of relief.

“However, I'm afraid Liguo's situation isn't good. We still need to be on guard. All these years, I thought she could help Liguo out a bit. They've been married for two years, and setting aside the fact that there's no sign of a baby, Liguo still hasn't secured a permanent position. Isn't that infuriating?” Mother Feng, Bai Xiuying, spoke to her husband with great dissatisfaction.

Feng Yuanshan was also not very happy about this matter. “It's fine. In another two years, if it really doesn't work out, we'll just let Liguo get a divorce. It's not like our family can't afford to marry a new daughter-in-law.” If a daughter-in-law couldn't bear children, that was one thing, but if she couldn't even help her son, what was the use of her?

“Exactly. Pingping's in-laws are much better. Look at her, she's pregnant again, and her mother-in-law practically treats her like royalty.” After all, she was the one who had crawled out of her own womb; Bai Xiuying's love for her was far greater than her love for Feng Miaomiao.

The in-laws she had chosen back then were handpicked by her.

“Our daughter has good fortune. Oh, right, I have something to tell you. Help me look into something tomorrow—buy a job for Miaomiao. That child has a bit of a wild streak; it's better to keep her under our watchful eyes.”

Thinking back to their conversation tonight, he had an intuition that the child could not be allowed to wander off.

“Didn't we say before to send her to the countryside to build up a good reputation for you? Why are we keeping her back now?” Mother Feng said somewhat reluctantly.

Back then, she hadn't even bought a job for her own biological daughter.

“This can't be explained in just a word or two. Anyway, just buy her a job. It's best if it's something easy. I always feel that child is a bit uncanny; it's better to pamper her a little.”

As soon as Feng Yuanshan finished saying this, he felt a chill run down his spine.

“Fine, I'll listen to you. Your decisions are never wrong.” Although she had her own little schemes, she generally followed her husband's lead on major matters.

“But we don't have much money at home. If we're going to buy her a job, you'll have to bring those things back. I'll find a place to exchange them then.” Once money entered her pocket, she wasn't about to let it leave.

Feng Yuanshan naturally understood his wife. “Alright, I'll take you with me to get them tomorrow night.”

What Feng Yuanshan did not know was that after things quieted down in their room, Feng Miaomiao went straight to that dilapidated house from last time.

She wrapped herself up very tightly and even brought a large woven straw bag. As for her purpose, there was no need to wonder.

Upon arriving, Feng Miaomiao did not rush inside. Instead, she looked around the area and waited for a while before daring to enter.

She took a flashlight, but while she was outside, she didn't dare turn it on, relying instead on the moonlight to see.

Only after she entered the room did she finally dare to switch on the flashlight.

The things hidden here were not as deep as those of the Mu family, but for some reason, they hadn't been discovered before.

However, none of that mattered. She had to make plans for her own future. She knew exactly how biased her parents were; no matter how good a thing was, it would never come to her.

Therefore, she had to leave herself a fallback.

If she took some, her father likely wouldn't suspect her.

Feng Miaomiao was a person from a later era; she naturally knew what things were precious, but she wasn't stupid—she knew what held value in this era.

Thus, when her straw bag was half full, she stopped. Gold was heavy, and if she packed too much, she wouldn't be able to carry it. After taking some jade ornaments from another cloth bag, she picked up the bag and left.

She didn't take the things home, but instead hid them in a place only she knew about, a place where no one would normally go.

After hiding them, she tucked a small gold bar on her person and went straight home.

By the time she reached home, it was almost dawn; it was early in the summer.

Not long after she changed her clothes, and before she could even lie down, she heard her mother's shouting from outside the room.

“You might as well just sleep your life away! All day long, can't you even make a meal?” Thinking of what she had promised last night, Mother Feng felt a surge of anger toward Feng Miaomiao.

“Did you hear me? Get up!” Bai Xiuying had a loud voice, and since they lived in a dormitory-style building, even though they were on the first floor, the walls weren't soundproof.

When she shouted, the neighbors nearby heard it clearly.

For the sake of her future life, Feng Miaomiao had to endure it, because she hadn't forgotten that today she was going with her father to see those treasures of the Mu family.

What she cared about most were those few books left behind by the Mu family ancestors.

If she could get them, once the economy took off, she would never have to be constrained by her family again.

“Coming.” Feng Miaomiao knew that if she didn't respond, her mother would definitely come to knock on her door, and even harsher words would be waiting for her then.

“Always dawdling. A young girl, and you don't even know how to help the family out a bit. You aren't half as capable as your sister was back then.” Hearing her voice, Bai Xiuying finally stopped her footsteps outside the room.

In a short while, the sounds of clattering and banging echoed from the floors above and below.

Some were going to work, some to school—oh, it was currently the holidays, and school wouldn't start until September, so both Feng Miaomiao and her younger brother were at home.

The eldest Feng brother did not live with the family; because Feng Liguo's wife's workplace provided housing, they had moved directly to the unit's quarters.

Feng Liguo and his wife worked at the same unit, and he was waiting to take over his wife's father's position; so far, he was still just a temporary worker.

However, because he had a high school diploma, his job was relatively easy, and combined with his ability to get along well with people, he was doing quite well at the unit.

But even so, he couldn't get a permanent status because there was a "one person, one slot" policy at their unit. Unless someone in the family left, no one else could get in.

He could only remain a temporary worker, and even then, one needed connections in the family, otherwise, they couldn't even get in.