บท 7: Family Fonversation
Chapter 7
"Why are you being so mischievous, Rose? Playing outside again?" complained a middle-aged woman's voice from inside the house.
"Ah, no, Mother. I just saw my brother..." Rose replied, sounding sulky.
"Has your brother come home yet? Tell him to come inside and have dinner immediately!" shouted Russell's mother from inside.
"Brother, did you hear that? You better come in quickly, or you'll get scolded again!"
Alex, unsure of what to do about his sister, listened to their conversation. The girl bore a striking resemblance to Russell but in a feminine form. She had a sharp jawline, wide eyes, and neatly shaped thin eyebrows, which added to her cuteness and suited her age well.
Alex recalled that this "younger sister" was only two years old when he joined the military. It was understandable that the girl didn't know what her brother looked like since he had never been home since enlisting.
"Um, well, you should go in and eat too."
"Uh, okay!"
As Alex entered the house, his daughter greeted him with a curious look. It seemed that Lilith had a lot to say and do with her father. When the girl noticed the bag that Alex was carrying, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Wow, a cute chubby bunny!"
With that, Lilith ran toward Alex in excitement, momentarily forgetting her shyness in front of her father. This caught everyone's attention, and people started gathering around.
Mrs. Greenfield, curious about the commotion, asked, "What's all the noise about?"
"Well, look, brother, I brought a bunch of chubby rabbits!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Greenfield approached and, upon confirming that they were indeed rabbits, couldn't help but reminisce.
"Remember not to go to Mount Russell. It's not safe. Besides wild boars, some tigers and bears are not easily provoked."
Lily and Lilith, upon hearing this, showed approval on their faces.
"Don't worry, Mother, don't you remember that your son is a soldier?"
"Soldiers? Let's see if soldiers can survive after being bitten by a tiger. And look at your missing hand. Don't be too reckless in the future!"
Alex could only smile wryly upon hearing his mother's words. Naturally, he wasn't afraid of tigers, thanks to his training as a special forces soldier and the knowledge he gained from the palm leaf books. However, since he couldn't provide further explanations, Alex simply agreed with his mother.
"Alright, Mom..."
"Alright, everyone, let's wash our hands and eat..."
…
At the dining table, six people were enjoying their meal.
"Wow, this soup is delicious! How did you make it like this?" Rose asked, savoring the flavor.
"Oh, it's delicious because it was made from the cute chubby rabbit earlier," Alex replied casually and playfully.
Upon hearing this, Rose immediately stopped chewing. Lilith, who was in the midst of eagerly putting meat into her mouth, felt betrayed.
"Brother, is that true? How could you be so heartless to cook such a cute fat rabbit!"
Seeing their reactions, Alex felt a bit amused. "If you don't want it, you don't have to eat it. You can finish it on your own," Alex suggested.
But before he could even pick up the bowl of soup, the two girls quickly scooped up a large portion of it. Even the usually quiet Lilith couldn't resist joining in.
"Auntie, leave me a little bit!"
"Eh, why are you taking it away from your aunt? Can't you ask your father to cook it every day?"
"N-No, I want to eat it now!"
"Rose, don't tease your Niece," Greenfield's mother interjected.
"Alright, Mom..."
With that, the people at the dinner table continued to enjoy their meal. Even the three adults who tasted the soup that Alex had made were pleasantly surprised.
"It's delicious. No wonder these two little girls are willing to have that cute rabbit cooked" remarked one of the adults.
Alex, seeing that the dish he prepared was being well-received, smiled. It would be strange if it didn't taste good since he followed the recipe from the palm leaf book. He also added a little bit of dew of life.
"It seems like your culinary skills have developed a lot while you were away. With this talent alone, you can support your family," Father Greenfield commented, nodding.
Upon hearing this, Alex smiled wryly. He understood the meaning behind his father's words. He had caused his wife and daughter to endure a lot during his absence. When Alex wasn't at home, his wife had to work in his father's garden. However, his wife was very principled and didn't want too much help from her in-laws. This situation made Greenfield's father and mother feel sorry for their daughter-in-law.
"Speaking of supporting the family, what are your plans after this?" Dad asked.
Alex had been dreading this question for a long time.
"I've signed a contract to take over Mary's farm on the mountainside in our village," Alex replied cautiously.
"Oh, really?" Greenfield's mother's shocked voice could be heard immediately.
Lily knew that her husband had taken over Mary's farming contract, but she didn't understand why her mother was reacting this way now.
"Don't you know? Farming is completely unprofitable! There are very few water sources in those areas, and the available water sources are far away. On top of that, the farm is said to be heavily in debt, estimated to be over a million dollars," Greenfield's mother explained.
"Is that true?" Lily gasped, taken aback.
She had thought that her husband, who retired from the army, would be able to support them properly. She had also been looking forward to the fruit farm that he had told her about. But she had no idea that it would come with such a huge debt.
Lily couldn't be blamed for her lack of knowledge. The farm was operated covertly, involved in illegal activities, and was never taken seriously.
Greenfield's father frowned as if he had anticipated something bad happening.
Seeing that everyone was in a sour mood, Alex hurriedly tried to explain.
"Please, everyone, calm down. During my time in the army, I gained knowledge and connections in the field of agriculture. So running the farm in the future won't be as difficult as it seems..."
"Young man, it's not as easy as you say. Your father and I have struggled to manage our family's 3-hectare land. And you claim you can handle 10 acres? Aren't you being too ambitious?" Greenfield's mother interrupted.
"I... I..." Alex stammered, trying to find the right words.
"Come on, your son is already grown up. Whatever decision he makes, he must carry it out and take responsibility for it. He will have to face the consequences and hardships. There's no need for us to overthink it," Greenfield's father intervened.
"But..." Greenfield's mother still seemed dissatisfied.
"Let's just continue eating," Father Greenfield interjected, ending the conversation.
The extended family then resumed eating in an atmosphere that was not as warm as before.
After Alex's father, mother, and younger sister returned to their own house, Alex was met with a displeased look from his wife.
Sensing her dissatisfaction, Alex felt guilty and took the initiative to explain.
"Don't worry, Lily. I won't let you suffer in the future. I am one hundred percent confident in the prospects of this farm..."
Lily stared at Alex for a while without uttering a word, but her face displayed a sense of complaint.
After a few moments of silence, she sighed helplessly.
"Sigh... well, I'll always support whatever you decide to do..."
Alex smiled gratefully upon seeing her response. Despite receiving many complaints, Lily was still willing to stick by his side. This further strengthened Alex's resolve to build a happy and prosperous family with them, becoming the happiest family in the world.
...
At eight in the morning, Alex walked towards the mountainside where his farm was located. As he made his way there, he noticed people casting strange glances in his direction.
Momentarily distracted and confused, Alex continued until he came across someone familiar.
"Hello, Uncle Yas."
"Oh, it's you, Russell. Are you headed to Mary's farm?" the uncle asked.
"How did you know, Uncle?" Alex was taken aback. He had only shared this information with his family.
"In our village, everyone knows that you, Russell, a retired soldier, have taken over a struggling farm. Are you sure about this decision? Your wife and child have endured hardships for a long time," the uncle expressed his concern and inquired further, adding a touch of gossip.
"Oh, is the news spreading so quickly? It has only been a few hours!" Alex exclaimed in surprise, realizing how fast rumors traveled.
He proceeded to explain his intentions at length, hoping that his words would spread as quickly as the previous gossip. However, he didn't want to burden his wife with the details.
"Ah, Uncle, I understand that my wife and child have been through a lot recently. Naturally, I want to help them. As for the fruit farm, even though it's currently facing financial difficulties, I am confident that under my management, it will eventually become a profitable venture."
Hearing this, Uncle Yas shook his head with uncertainty, but still offered his best wishes and encouragement.
"Alright, I understand that you want the best for your family. I hope your words come true. And if you need any help along the way, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Uncle. I will seek your help when the time comes," Alex replied sincerely.
"Don't mention it. Take care, Uncle!" Alex bid farewell.
"Yes, take care on your way!"
As Uncle Yas departed, Alex smiled wryly. It was evident that his journey would be challenging, as even the villagers seemed to have already condemned his newly acquired farm.
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