Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 52: Undercurrents in the Deep Winter

The deep winter had arrived.

The north wind was like a whetted blade, scraping across the bare treetops, emitting mournful howls. The end of the year was approaching, yet Su Family Village was permeated with an oppressive atmosphere unlike any previous year.

The papermaking workshop at the village center, however, was bustling with activity. Its scale had doubled compared to three months ago. The newly built chimney spewed white steam all day long, and the smell of alkali water and bamboo pulp was so thick it enveloped most of the village, as if soaking the entire settlement in a kind of metallic-tinged vitality. As the year-end approached, the volume of goods shipped out had multiplied.

The over twenty newly hired men made the workshop shed feel cramped and overcrowded. They worked diligently, their clothes soaked with sweat, but their eyes lacked the reverence of the earliest batch of workers, replaced instead by poorly concealed calculation and ambition.

Su Ming walked through the workshop shed, carrying a stack of freshly calculated account books. Several of the new villagers huddled together, whispering in low voices. When they saw him pass by, they immediately fell silent, their gazes falling upon him in unison, as if weighing a valuable object. Su Ming's expression remained unchanged as he walked past with steady steps.

Lin Yu spoke lazily in his mind, "Disciple, see that? This is human nature. The first batch of people got to eat meat, and they were grateful. This second batch came smelling the meat. They'll only complain about getting too little, and might even wonder why they aren't the ones dividing up the pot of meat." His voice held a trace of weariness that was hard to detect. During this period, he had been desperately suppressing that latent Ghost Lantern power, and now he had finally achieved considerable success, able to relax a little.

"This disciple understands," Su Ming responded in his heart.

"Good that you understand. Don't meddle in matters that aren't your concern," Lin Yu advised. "Since Village Chief Zhao Dequan dares to hire so openly, he has his own methods. We just need to watch and wait."

When the account books were delivered to Zhao Dequan, he was leisurely polishing his ever-present pipe with a soft cloth. With the New Year approaching, he was dressed more formally than usual, his dark cotton robe starched and impeccable.

"Uncle Zhao, these are the accounts up to the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month. A total of thirty-eight thousand sheets of paper were produced. As you instructed, fifteen thousand were sold piecemeal, and the remainder have been stored in the warehouse, waiting for the merchants to collect them after spring arrives," Su Ming reported.Zhao Dequan gave a noncommittal "Hmm," took the account books, but didn't open them, casually setting them aside instead. He lifted his eyelids, his gaze pausing on Su Ming's face. Those deep-set eyes seemed capable of seeing through a person's heart. "There's been... quite a bit of idle talk in the village lately, hasn't there?"

Su Ming's heart tightened slightly. He replied, "There have been some discussions. Mostly about the workshop."

"Hmph, more than just discussions," Zhao Dequan snorted coldly, tapping his pipe against the corner of the table with deliberate force, producing a dull thud. "Some people have stretched their hands too far, and their hearts have grown too wild."

Su Ming recalled earlier at the village entrance, catching a glimpse of Su Lai huddled furtively with a few of the new villagers. They had scattered immediately upon seeing him approach. Su Lai's triangular eyes had been gleaming with malicious intent, like a venomous snake hiding in the shadows.

then spoke up, "Uncle Zhao, I saw Su Lai

flat yet bone-chillingly cold. "A stray dog that only knows how to scurry

shreds. His movements were steady, without a trace of agitation. "You're still young. Don't concern yourself with these matters. Your duty is to study the Sage's Books well, keep the accounts clear, and provide technical guidance. As for other matters, even if the sky falls, I'll be the one holding

acknowledged the instruction and

his heart did not dissipate. The festive atmosphere of the New

the small earthen house of the Su family exceptionally lit two oil

using the light to hurriedly sew new clothes for the family. She hummed a tuneless little ditty, and the movement of her needle and thread carried the anticipation of the approaching New Year—the simplest happiness of ordinary

in Su Ming's room. The dim, yellowish halo illuminated his delicate profile, making its contours distinct.

can Uncle Zhao... really suppress those people?" Su Ming asked in his heart. "The village is like a pot of boiling water right now. I'm afraid the lid will be forced

if it is forced off, what does that have to do with you?" Lin Yu's tone was teasing. "Have you truly come

was at a loss

you, what has allowed Zhao Dequan to

for a moment before answering, "It's

profit," Lin Yu's voice turned more serious. "He can gather people's hearts with profit, and naturally, he also has harsher methods to deal with those who are restless. This is his ship, carrying

Su Ming fell silent.

to learn is not to help him steer the ship, nor is it to think about patching it up," Lin Yu spoke word by word, imprinting them into Su

the method taught by his master in the Aura Concealment Art, he gradually slowed his breathing,

himself as a drop of water, merging into the earthen bed beneath him; transforming into a wisp of smoke, dissipating into the air of

how much time had passed when a mysterious sensation

He "heard."

a direct perception originating from his

the rhythm of an old ox pulling a cart, as if he could feel the rise and fall of the airflow within his

"heard" the faint, rustling sound of his mother threading a needle in the main room. He could even "feel" the slight resistance as the needle tip pierced the cotton cloth

slowly spread his

courtyard, the old yellow dog was curled up asleep in its kennel, its tail twitching unconsciously.