Eat, sleep, train Crow Crow.
Life was leisurely and carefree.
In the blink of an eye, the auspicious day for Li Ping'an's spirit root test arrived.
Early in the morning, Li Rongzhou prepared some silver and took his son to set off for Flat Peach Town.
Only then did Li Pingcan learn that testing one's spirit root cost three taels of silver - an amount most farming families with multiple children couldn't afford.
Before parting, Lady Qin bent down to tie a divine talisman she had obtained around her second son's neck, solemnly instructing: "Keep this close to your body."
Little Li Ping'an's face was tense as he nodded seriously.
Even Li Pingfu wasn't his usual playful self, raising a fist to cheer his younger brother on.
This heavy atmosphere made even the normally calm Li Pingcan feel nervous - this was more anxiety-inducing than waiting for college entrance exam results in his previous life!
And it was their only chance in this lifetime to defy fate!
"Testing spirit roots? Don't waste your money!"
A shrill voice interrupted.
Neighbor Granny Wang had always been at odds with the Li family. She couldn't stand Lady Qin's "pretentious airs" and sneered with hands on hips: "Dragons breed dragons, phoenixes breed phoenixes, and rats' sons dig holes. How could a peasant's son ever become an immortal?"
All five Li family members' expressions darkened.
What an ill-omened thing to say!
Li Rongzhou stopped his eldest son from jumping up in anger, whispering: "Don't cause trouble during your brother's important moment."
He wasn't unangered, but didn't want to miss the "auspicious hour."
Li Ping'an's nervousness turned into indignant anger at the insult, lifting his chin proudly to shout at Granny Wang: "Just you wait! I'll definitely become an immortal!"
Success isn't determined by willpower alone.
At dusk, Li Ping'an trailed dejectedly behind Li Rongzhou, causing the welcoming smiles of Lady Qin and others to freeze.
Next door, Granny Wang stuck her head out, melon seed shells still stuck to her lips as she crowed loudly:
"I told you it was a waste of money!"
"This Li family's second son is as scrawny as a bean sprout - one gust of wind would snap him! How could he bear immortal blessings?"
"Listen! Even the hens are clucking at you fools! Brat, go dig in the dirt with your father! Useless thing, watch your parents abandon you!"
The already humiliated Li Ping'an couldn't take it anymore. With a loud wail, he ran home crying.
Lady Qin's lips trembled with anger as she hugged her youngest while moving to chase after her second son, refusing to engage the vile woman. A year in the village had taught her Granny Wang's nature - unreasonable, cunning and malicious. Arguing with such people was a waste of time and only bred more anger.
"What 'you'? Still putting on airs!"
Granny Wang felt as refreshed as drinking iced mung bean soup in summer. That stuck-up Lady Qin who always acted like some noble madam had finally fallen into her hands!
Seeing Granny Wang's gloating expression, Li Pingcan was furious. Even in his previous life, he'd never met someone so vicious.
Just because his family were former landowners who'd fallen on hard times, this woman took every chance to mock them!
"A Druid like me letting you bully us?!"
With a thought from Li Pingcan, natural energy gathered as wild grass by the fence glowed green, a flexible thorny vine slithering like a snake.
Granny Wang was laughing uproariously with hands on hips when suddenly her plump body crashed heavily into a muddy pit.
"Ow! Damn it! Who pulled me?"
She was about to curse when countless bugs emerged - centipedes and cockroaches swarming up her pants legs.
Swine-like shrieks pierced the twilight.
The Li household was somber.
Though disappointed, the parents didn't blame their child. Having spirit roots was already a rare blessing - not having them was the norm.
But the sensitive and proud Li Ping'an, humiliated by Granny Wang, cried for two full hours without eating dinner, his eyes swollen like fish bladders.
Li Pingcan found no satisfaction in punishing Granny Wang, only worry.
Lady Qin and Li Rongzhou argued inside.
"Husband, go talk to Ping'an. That child's been stubborn since birth," Lady Qin fretted.
"A real man shouldn't lose heart over a woman's words," Li Rongzhou dismissed.
He disliked Granny Wang's ill omens but equally frowned at his second son's dejection.
Just then, Li Ping'an's hoarse voice came from outside: "Father, may I come in?"
"Enter. What is it?" Li Rongzhou asked.
"I've realized something."
Li Ping'an raised his red, swollen eyes. "Our family is weak in Peach Blossom Village, so Granny Wang bullies us like soft persimmons. In a dog pack, the small ones get bitten until they whimper! People are the same - the weak get bullied!"
Li Rongzhou was pleasantly surprised his second son understood this. As refugees, the Lis were inexplicably ostracized despite sharing ancestry with villagers.
Encouraged, Li Ping'an mustered courage: "Father, I've thought it over. I'm no good at martial arts. I want to study for imperial exams. Even if I can't become an immortal official, I'll be a clerk to support our family!"
The seven-year-old declared stubbornly: "I know education is expensive. I'll work as a servant for rich families to save up slowly."
Lady Qin's heart ached as she hugged him. "No son of mine will be a servant! I'll pay for your studies!"
Li Rongzhou laughed proudly: "Not discouraged by failure! That's my boy!"
In the darkness, Li Rongzhou opened his eyes and crept out of bed.
He didn't notice the small mushroom suddenly growing on his coarse cloth shirt.
The autumn night was cool as he slipped out, following a small shadow to Granny Wang's house, climbing over the wall.
Moonlight revealed Li Pingfu's tense face.
Holding a slingshot, he waited by Granny Wang's apricot tree. Knowing her nightly habits, his target soon appeared.
A stone precisely hit the cracked board beneath Granny Wang's feet as she squatted over the pit.
Before she could react, the board snapped with a crack.
Granny Wang slipped, falling backward into the stinking, maggot-filled cesspool.
Li Pingfu silently laughed at her plight, only to be grabbed by the scruff.
Terrified, he turned to see his father's stern face.
Relieved, he grinned and waved the slingshot, whispering: "Father! I avenged Ping'an!"
Without a word, Li Rongzhou carried him home like a chick. Moonlight cast sharp shadows on his angular face.
He stared coldly at his eldest and asked:
"Do you want to kill someone?!"