One must never look at an issue solely from its surface factors.
It is imperative to look beyond the superficial phenomena and discern the essence.
Everyone has observed the apparent thawing of relations between Bang Geng and Yi Zhonghai, with Bang Geng even addressing Yi Zhonghai as "Dad"!
However, these developments are merely superficial.
In essence, the conflict between Bang Geng and Yi Zhonghai remains unresolved.
Qin Huairu's pregnancy held Yi Zhonghai's hopes for continuing his lineage.
With Bang Geng causing her miscarriage, how could Yi Zhonghai possibly forgive and forget such a deep-seated hatred?
Similarly, Bang Geng has yet to avenge his father's death, and he cannot easily let go of his own grievances at this time.
...
The next morning, Liu Kai Xuan woke up exceptionally early.
He went to the market and bought two live hens, bringing them home to raise.
Of course, buying chickens at the market was merely a pretense. In reality, these two old hens were carefully selected by Liu Kai Xuan from his system farm.
These two old hens were chosen for their highest egg-laying productivity.
If he were to truly buy chickens from the market to raise, the probability of getting good hens would be extremely low.
In this era of material scarcity, would any owner be willing to sell a hen that lays eggs prolifically?
The hens sold at the market are those that lay very few eggs.
"Husband, can these two old hens you bought lay eggs?"
Zhao Feiyan looked at the two old hens Liu Kai Xuan had bought, her doubt surfacing.
"Yesterday, my mother also suggested we buy chicks to raise!"
"No worries!"
Liu Kai Xuan said with a chuckle, "If these two old hens don't lay eggs, we'll stew them and have chicken soup!"
"Well... if you say that, the two old hens must be terrified, hahaha!"
"Alright, raising chicks is too much trouble; raising old hens directly is more efficient!"
In this era, there were also restrictions on raising livestock.
It wasn't permissible to raise too many. If he got two chicks for Zhao Feiyan to raise, she had no experience with chickens.
If they died midway, it would be like drawing water with a bamboo basket – all in vain, and it would certainly make her depressed.
It was more cost-effective to go straight for the bullseye by raising old hens that lay eggs.
...
Meanwhile, the struggle between Bang Geng and Yi Zhonghai, that pair of "loving father and filial son," was gradually unfolding.
Just as Liu Kai Xuan returned from the market with two old hens, Yi Zhonghai set his sights on them.
Yi Zhonghai calculated that if he could instigate Bang Geng to steal Liu Kai Xuan's chickens, things would become simple.
He wouldn't have to run around himself to restrain this sinister little thief, Bang Geng.
Liu Kai Xuan would naturally take action and send Bang Geng to jail!
Concurrently, from this day onward, Bang Geng began searching everywhere for pufferfish.
Pufferfish are not exactly a rare commodity.
But they are also not something you find on every street corner!
When you aren't looking for them, you might occasionally encounter one or two.
But when you are actively seeking them, it becomes quite difficult to find even one.
After school, Bang Geng spent over an hour by the river without any success.
Unable to achieve his goal, he had to devise a longer-term plan.
Upon returning home, Bang Geng saw Qin Huairu cooking in the kitchen and immediately went to help.
For dinner that night, Qin Huairu made coarse grain congee.
To hone his "culinary skills," Bang Geng personally helped Qin Huairu make a pot of congee.
Not only that, after dinner was ready, Bang Geng personally carried a bowl of congee to the living room for Yi Zhonghai.
"Dad, have your meal!"
Bang Geng held the bowl of congee with both hands and offered it to Yi Zhonghai.
Yi Zhonghai accepted the bowl, a look of joy spreading across his aged face.
At this moment, Bang Geng suddenly said, "Dad, I need to buy some study materials, and I need one yuan!"
"Need money?" Yi Zhonghai's brow furrowed slightly.
Seeing this, Qin Huairu quickly interjected, "Old Yi, look how sensible Bang Geng is now!"
"He helps me cook and serves you food!"
"From now on, our whole family can live harmoniously together, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Here you go!" Yi Zhonghai said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, taking out a yuan from his pocket and giving it to Bang Geng.
Initially, Yi Zhonghai felt incredibly pleased when Bang Geng served him food and called him Dad.
However, after being swindled out of a yuan by Bang Geng, Yi Zhonghai felt utterly dejected.
It felt as if he had found a fly in his meat while eating.
As everyone picked up their bowls and chopsticks to eat, Yi Zhonghai suddenly remarked, "This afternoon, I saw a chicken coop in front of Liu Kai Xuan's house!"
"And there were two old hens inside!"
"What?" Bang Geng's eyes immediately lit up. "Liu Kai Xuan's family has chickens?"
"Yes!" Yi Zhonghai nodded and smiled. "I saw Zhao Feiyan collect an egg from the chicken coop!"
"By the way, Xiao Ru, would you like to raise chickens? I can get you a chicken coop later!"
"Forget it..."
Qin Huairu shook her head, refusing. "I'm already busy enough with housework every day; where would I find the time to raise chickens?"
Speaking of Qin Huairu, her most proficient skill was leeching.
Now, she didn't have to do anything; she could comfortably rely on Yi Zhonghai.
With Yi Zhonghai, this generous fool, providing for her unconditionally, why would she bother raising chickens? It was dirty and tiring.
Qin Huairu might never have imagined that Yi Zhonghai mentioning Liu Kai Xuan's chickens at the dinner table was an intentional ploy to manipulate Bang Geng.
Bang Geng's heart itched with temptation at Yi Zhonghai's words.
He had the urge to pilfer Liu Kai Xuan's two chickens and eat them.
However, this thought flashed through his mind and was quickly dismissed.
Bang Geng had already been sent to juvenile detention once by Liu Kai Xuan, and it had left a deep shadow in his heart.
To go to juvenile detention again just for a chicken would be a loss far outweighing any gain.
And most importantly, Bang Geng now had a more significant "goal" in his heart.
His father's murder had yet to be avenged, so the matter of eating meat could be put aside for now.
Liu Kai Xuan's residence.
Zhao Feiyan was in a very good mood today. The two old hens Liu Kai Xuan had bought for her were truly "efficient workers."
Zhao Feiyan had been raising the chickens for just one day, and she had already harvested an egg.
The harvested egg was boiled by Zhao Feiyan.
Then it was cut in half, with each of the two little ones receiving a portion.
"Husband, you really have a good eye!" Zhao Feiyan exclaimed gleefully.
"The old hens just bought laid an egg on the same day!"
"Heh heh..." Liu Kai Xuan nodded and smiled. "My judgment has always been quite good!"