Chapter 677: Dad

"Oh, I almost forgot," Chi Baishui said, introducing his recently returned son to his eldest daughter. "This is your fifth brother; he just came back yesterday."

Seeing Yang Xiaohai's tattoo, his eldest sister nodded in satisfaction. "Fifth brother, it's good you're back. Are you married? Would you like me to find you a match?"

"Hahaha, no need for that," the father chuckled. "This kid is impressive; he found a very capable woman to be his wife – one who could practically be his mother."

As soon as the two entered the boat cabin, Zhao Xiumei, looking terrified, came to Yang Xiaohai's side and gripped him with her slightly cold hands. "My dear, this is the rebellious Fa cult! We must flee!"

A hint of struggle appeared in Yang Xiaohai's eyes. He finally reached out and patted the back of her hand, then followed them into the boat cabin. "I'll see if I can talk some sense into them," he said.

After all, they were his family. He couldn't just let them walk into trouble without intervening.

With the Chi family's eldest daughter back home, lunch was exceptionally lavish. However, Yang Xiaohai's attention was clearly not on the food; instead, he was pondering how to persuade his eldest sister.

"Father!" the eldest daughter exclaimed. "How much silver do we still have? Give it all to me. I'll go use my connections and see if I can get our entire family to 'eat imperial grain'!"

Hearing her say this, Yang Xiaohai immediately became anxious. Without thinking of anything else, he quickly stood up. "Eldest sister, you can't do this! This Fa cult is a rebellious evil cult! You're pushing our whole family into a fiery pit!" As he spoke, Yang Xiaohai recounted how the Fa cult had besieged Ox-Heart Village and everything that old Fa cult woman had done in the county town.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Yang Xiaohai saw his eldest sister and his father exchange a glance and burst into laughter.

"Fifth brother, you're still young and don't understand," his sister said. "Of course, I know they are rebels. They're an evil cult before the rebellion, but what if the rebellion succeeds?"

His eldest sister gave Yang Xiaohai a meaningful look, picked up her fish wine, and took a sip. "If this rebellion succeeds, it won't be a rebellion anymore; it will be called an uprising! And that Fa cult won't be an evil cult; it will be called the national religion! Do you understand what I mean?"

"I don't understand!" Yang Xiaohai shook his head vigorously, his expression firm.

"An evil cult is an evil cult! They killed many people! They treated human life like grass!"

"Nonsense!" Chi Baishui roared, slamming the table. "Did the officials in the former Later Shu dynasty not disregard human life? They were all the same! It was all just for them to collect large pearls! That's why your mother became deaf! It's better if those sons of bitches are wiped out!"

"Now that the new dynasty has just risen, they're short on people everywhere," he continued. "If we don't go get some minor official position now, are we supposed to rely on fishing and pearl diving to turn our lives around?"

Seeing Yang Xiaohai standing there with clenched fists, an impatient Chi Baishui waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. You're just a kid; you're too young to understand. You wouldn't get it even if I explained it. Just listen to your father from now on."

He then looked at his eldest daughter. "Just do as you said. The money you sent back hasn't been wasted, and your fifth brother brought back a lot of silver. You can take all of it to use."

Both father and daughter were quick to act, and as soon as they finished eating, they got to work. The silver hidden at the bottom of the chest and strings of copper coins were all dug out.

Yang Xiaohai's carriage was also opened, and everything he had brought from Ox-Heart Village was moved out.

"Don't be reluctant!" Chi Baishui said, looking triumphant. "Give all this silver to your eldest sister. Let her use it to get me a minor official position. That's much more useful than hoarding this money!"

Yang Xiaohai held his wife's hand, watching numbly as his belongings were moved out one by one. He didn't regret the silver; he just suddenly felt that his family seemed somewhat different from what he had imagined, leaving him with an inexplicable sense of unease.

Shouldn't family members love each other, even if it's just like the Lu family troupe?

"Father, this really won't do!" Yang Xiaohai pleaded, attempting a final persuasion. "The Fa cult kills people! They truly kill without batting an eye! You're making our whole family into villains!" He still couldn't just watch his family go to their deaths.

"What do you know, kid?" his father scoffed. "In this world, there are no villains or good people! Are you treating this like child's play?" They just kept moving things, until finally, even the carriage and the horse were sold, and no one even asked Yang Xiaohai about it.

Seemingly sensing what was happening, Houwa and Zhao Xiumei silently huddled beside him, not going anywhere. The joy they had displayed earlier was long gone from their faces.

"My dear, let's go back to Ox-Heart Village," Zhao Xiumei said, persuading Yang Xiaohai for the first time. "This isn't right."

Yang Xiaohai watched his mother, who was carrying a bowl of something, walk towards him. He forced a smile and went to meet her. "Wait a moment," he said, "I need to think of a way."

All day long, Yang Xiaohai's mind was in turmoil. He had considered forcibly stopping his family, but he was surrounded by relatives, and it would be difficult to resort to physical force, especially since he couldn't use lethal means.

That night, Yang Xiaohai lay tossing and turning in his hammock, pondering the problem.

"Houwa is nimble-footed," he thought. "Maybe I should just have Houwa steal all the silver from eldest sister tonight? That way, they won't be able to join the Fa cult?"

Just as Yang Xiaohai was getting an idea, he suddenly heard chattering monkey cries from outside. That sound couldn't be made by an ordinary person; only Houwa, who was used to acting like a monkey, could produce it.

"What's going on?" Yang Xiaohai flipped out of his hammock, tiptoed past his third brother's head, and walked out of the boat.

As soon as he stepped out, Yang Xiaohai saw a scene that utterly shocked him: his father and second brother were tying up the three Houwa with ropes and walking away.

"Father! What are you doing?!" Yang Xiaohai cried out, his voice trembling.

Chi Baishui looked up and saw Yang Xiaohai. With no panic on his face, he said matter-of-factly, "Didn't you pick up these three children on the road? They're not very useful anyway, so we might as well sell them for money."

Yang Xiaohai felt a pang in his heart at this moment, a piercing pain. His lips trembled slightly as he stepped forward. "Father, I gave you all that money from my carriage, even the carriage itself. Why do you need to sell children?"

"Can you ever have too much money?" his father retorted. "These three children are especially like monkeys, and they've probably been trained. They can fetch a good price. Once we get the money, I'll have your eldest sister buy you an official position in the court; you can earn it back in two or three months."

Yang Xiaohai looked at his father before him, feeling he was a complete stranger. Fear suddenly welled up in his heart. Did he really sell himself because he couldn't get food back then? Why did his father sell people so easily?

Chi Baishui couldn't be bothered with Yang Xiaohai. He gave his other son a look, and the two continued to drag the Houwa away.

"Stop! I said stop!!" Yang Xiaohai shouted, blocking their path. There was no longer any hesitation in his eyes as he pulled out his Rotten Wood Ruyi from his chest. "Let them go!"

"Hey! How dare you talk to your father like that! Is your skin itching for a beating?!"

"Why?! Why!" Yang Xiaohai, with bloodshot eyes, glared at him and shouted, "Why did you sell me back then?!"

"Why?" Chi Baishui snarled. "Because I'm your father! Kneel down!" He rolled up his sleeves.

Their voices woke up the people on the other boats, and soon, other Tanka families came out, gathering around. After they briefly understood the reason, they began to talk over each other, trying to mediate the argument.

"Fifth child of the Chi family, you can't do this," one person said. "After all, he's your father. For such a minor matter, you should obey him. You mustn't be unfilial."

"That's right," another added. "Anyway, these three children aren't part of our clan members. If they're sold, they're sold."

"Alright, alright, let's just leave it at that," another chimed in. "Quickly kowtow to your father and admit your mistake. You're all family; don't make a scene over such a small matter."