Chapter 5

Old Father's home was in a small mountain hollow in a neighboring county not far from here. Old Father was naturally also surnamed Yang, but this Yang was different from Old Mother's Yang. Old Father's Yang was a surname bestowed by ancestors, meaning that it was not originally their surname, but rather one given to servants by emperors or nobles. Over the years, this old ancestor had expanded into a large family, though it was not as prominent as the major clans, it was still quite respectable.

Many years ago, due to war, the ancestors led this family to flee to the nearby area. They encountered marauding soldiers, and as a result, the group was scattered. Old Father's side had several dozen people settle in a nearby mountain hollow. Because it was a mountain hollow, apart from wild beasts, it was truly a paradise, untouched by soldiers and bandits. However, it was quite impoverished.

"Then, Grandfather, how did you end up here?" Yang Heng felt puzzled. Since that place was so good, how did Old Father end up here? He seemed to remember that Old Father had been saved by Old Mother.

"Hehe, well." "It's embarrassing to say, but let me tell you. Your great-grandfather, who is your father's grandfather, your great-grandfather, when your father was fifteen, your great-grandmother passed away. At that time, it was a chaotic era, and your great-grandfather remarried your current great-grandmother. The following year, she gave birth to a younger uncle, …"

"Alright, stop, Ying'er, stop." Old Father clutched his head in pain, perhaps resenting his great-grandfather. If not for the kind-hearted Old Mother, Old Father might be …

"Grandfather, Grandfather, I'm still here." Yang Heng rarely showed a hint of sympathy. This stepfather had it tough, "But Grandfather, what would happen if we went back?"

"Go back? That's not a good idea. We don't have any land there, how would we live? I was just saying that out of frustration. I think we should find someone to mediate." "But isn't there any uncultivated land there? We can clear it ourselves." "Where would we live?" "There must be unclaimed wood. We can build a temporary shelter, right?" Yang Heng said helplessly. He believed that in this era, there would definitely be uncultivated land; it was just a matter of how to clear it.

"There is, but that place is not easy to cultivate. There are many wild beasts on the mountain, and they often come down. However, the area is vast. Our ancestors have tried to cultivate it for nearly a hundred years but have not succeeded. Do you have a way?" Old Father said uncertainly.

"That's great, Father, have you forgotten what we do? We are blacksmiths. We can forge better tools, making it much easier." Yang Heng became excited.

"Yes, my husband, why don't we go to your hometown? We won't have to endure this here. Once I find my uncle, we can think of other ways." Old Mother chimed in. She had been worried for days, both about the house and Yang Heng's illness.

"Let me think about it." "Don't think, Grandfather, just tell us, how much uncultivated land is there in your hometown?" Yang Heng was anxious. "Let me think. There are several hundred acres, all unclaimed land. However, there are all sorts of trees on it, and according to them, there is a layer of stone beneath the soil, so the tree roots grow very quickly. If you cut them here, they grow back there. They are also frequently damaged by wild beasts, posing a great danger to people. This is why multiple attempts to cultivate the land have failed. The land is also high, and water cannot be easily brought up." Old Father said helplessly. "Is there a river nearby?" "Yes, and there is a river right next to the forest I mentioned, but the water cannot be directly brought to the land. It needs to be carried by hand, which is not very efficient." Old Father was very frustrated.

"That's even better. We can forge some machetes and plows.