How To Survive as a Villain

Chapter 97: Are You Alive? It Was Arranged.

Zhang Changsongs’s wife passed away young, leaving no children behind. Zhang Changsong was also a faithful man and didn’t get married again. He kept the small medicinal shop left by his ancestors and lived a full life, with no worries for a family.

As a result, at the age of 35, he picked up an infant, Zhang Baizhu.

Zhang Changsong is a man with a big temper, but with a soft heart. After picking up Zhang Baizhu, he treated him like his own son, and didn’t treat him badly. Even the people of the village who knew that Zhang Baizhu wasn’t his biological son never mentioned it, and they all shouted for them like: “Daifu¹ Zhang, Daifu Xiao-Zhang!”

Then, half a year ago, Xiao YuAn, who was by now well acquainted with the villagers, suddenly came to ask Zhang Changsong if he could accept him as an apprentice. When Zhang Changsong asked him why, Xiao YuAn said that he wanted to cure his Didi².

Indeed, there was a sick young man in Xiao YuAn’s residence, and he heard that his surname was Xie.

What’s more, their residence is really strange. It was a family of four brothers living in Taoyuan Village, but everyone’s surname was different.

Zhang Changsong thought about it, but didn’t refuse.

And then, there was this scene today.

After working for a whole hour, the three of them finally pulled the soldier back from the Guimen pass³. Zhang Changsong wiped the sweat off his forehead, glared at the two brats, and then turned around to take a rest.

Zhang Baizhu looked through the soldier’s belongings and said: “Oh! He’s from the Eastern Wu Kingdom. Wait, will you carry him to your home?”

Xiao YuAn replied with a smile: “Yes, I don’t want to trouble you.”

Zhang Changsong, who was resting on the bamboo recliner, snorted ferociously.

The two of them had already gotten used to Xiao YuAn’s sharp tongue and soft heart for a long time now; and they didn’t take it to heart at all, so Zhang Baizhu said: “You said that you want to save these people. But why do you always put the Southern Yan and Eastern Wu soldiers to heal in the same room? Won’t this lead to a fight?”

“Well, if it’s a matter of life and death, what’s the big deal? and…” Xiao YuAn murmured in a low voice: “In a few years, it’ll be one big Country, and they’ll belong to the same side anyways.”

Zhang Baizhu couldn’t hear him clearly: “What?”

Xiao YuAn shook his head: “It doesn’t matter.”

Zhang Changsong roared: “Do you both still have the time to chat? Have you taken care of the herbs in the garden?”

Zhang Baizhu’s feet were quick to run away, and Xiao YuAn wanted to follow him, preparing himself to run away. However, Zhang Changsong stopped him: “Xiao YuAn, get your ass over here!”

Xiao YuAn behaved himself and walked over to him.

Zhang Changsong eased his breath and asked: “Your brother’s illness, is he better?”

Xiao YuAn was startled and shook his head helplessly.

Zhang Changsong sighed: “Go grab some more tranquilizing medicine before you go. He’s suffering from heartache, he can’t be too anxious. His recovery is up to the will of Heaven.”

“Yes, thank you, Shifu.” Xiao YuAn saluted him⁴.

“And don’t go too far away to pick up medicinal herbs. There’s a war at the borders, and the weapons don’t have eyes. If you’re not careful enough, they’ll poke a big hole in you, and then, you won’t even have a place to cry!” Zhang Changsong said to him with a strong and fierce tone of voice.

“I got it, I understand.” Xiao YuAn replied with a smile.

“Fine. Also, this man is badly injured, so it’s better to not move him. Let him recover here. The other two you saved before, are they out of the village?” Zhang Changsong asked.

“Yes, the Southern Yan and the Eastern Wu soldiers, who were recovering from their wounds, fought each other in my home earlier and were too embarrassed to stay; so I gave them some medicine and sent them back to their respective barracks.” Xiao YuAn said.

Zhang Changsong glared at him: “You’re indeed⁵… Why did you have to put them together in the same room? Their two Countries are fighting a war at the border, how can they not fight when they see each other? All right, all right, all right. Go get the medicine and go back home.”

Xiao YuAn smiled in response as he went to the medicine cabinet to grab some medicine . After that, he told Zhang Changsong that he will come see him tomorrow, and then he carried the medicine back towards the East street.

As the sun set, a few eldery people came out from their homes to cool off. Xiao YuAn greeted them one by one, and also played with the children in the street for a while. After having some fun, he returned to his residence.

The residence wasn’t big. It had a small courtyard, a few wing rooms, a few willow trees in the fish pond, and a stone table, which was filled with Aunt’s fragrant and delicious food.

At that moment, the Third Aunt was coming out of the kitchen with some vegetables when she saw Xiao YuAn: “YuAn, you’re back just in time. Dinner is ready, quickly go and call Chungui.”

This residence originally belonged to Third Aunt, whose husband used to be a wealthy and famous merchant. However, the businessman got into trouble with some bandits and died, leaving her behind with an empty mansion. Third Aunt was an arrogant lady and she was unwilling to remarry; so she became a widow, and lived alone for several years.

When Yang LiuAn and Xiao Fengyue arrived at the village at the beginning of the month, they were asking around for an available place where they could buy a house. Third Aunt went to find them and told them that she was willing to sell her house at a low price, but she wanted to keep living there, and that the structure and decoration of the house couldn’t be changed.

Yang LiuAn and Xiao Fengyue naturally agreed to her conditions.

Third Aunt wasn’t suspicious of them, even though their identities were a mystery, she didn’t bother to ask. After living together and getting along for more than half a year, she already knew that they were good people.

Third Aunt was also very diligent and couldn’t bear to see these grown men having a rough time. She washes and cooks for them, and even though everyone told her to not overwork herself, she says that she’s happy like this. After all, she has been alone for most of her life, and now, she can treat these four young men as her own sons.

Xiao YuAn smiled at her: “Third Aunt had worked hard today, I’ll go call him right away.”

Xiao YuAn walked out of the East wing and came across a room. The windows of the room were wide open and there was a pot of orchids on the table in front of the window, which emitted a delicate fragrance. Looking through the window, Xiao YuAn saw a man bending over a desk, calculating the accounts. His appearance was serious and careful.

How can XYA be so cute???₍՞◌′ᵕ‵ू◌₎♡ And even tho I find hilarious his reasoning to save these soldiers… it still shows that he’s not accustomed to the hardships of war and that he always tries to do good when in the end he will likely get hurt… my poor babyʕ ಡ ﹏ ಡ ʔ

As for XCG’s illness, it will get explained in future chapters, I just want to clarify that he doesn’t have a heart disease, it has to do with mis mental state (related to his feelings)