Around, the peach blossoms that had fallen fell into stillness.
Its figure also ricketered.
The apology itself has no practical meaning.
The only function it plays is to draw an end on the premise that one party is tired, tired, and tired.
Wei Zhengdao was not wrong in teaching the Black Book.
Since it wants to learn, then he teaches it.
But that's just a high-sounding statement.
Substituting Wei Zhengdao from Li Chaiyuan's perspective, he can roughly guess that Wei Zhengdao at that time did not really care about these companions around him.
Wei Zhengdao should really not know the side effects of the Black Book Secret Method at that time, but with his intelligence, he was really reluctant to think about this aspect?
He should be too lazy to do this and feel that there is no need for this.
Or, relying on this secret method in a short period of time to allow one of his partners to gain explosive strength growth, it is beneficial to his group.
Under the peach tree, the source of anger is really the side effects of the secret method that he endured?
What really bothered it and tormented it was precisely because during his long and painful career of self-repression, he recalled and ruminated on that period of earth over and over again, and gradually came to a conclusion:
He didn't actually think of himself as a friend.
He was even more angry that even after so many years, even after experiencing such a thing, he still couldn't let go of him in his heart.
In his state of being neither human nor ghost, he still hopes that he can die clean and decent.
If he hadn't met Ah Li first, then when he faced Tan Wenbin and Runsheng, he would probably treat them in the same way as Wei Zhengdao at the beginning.
It is the Tan Wenbin or Runsheng of the past.
If Wei Zhengdao had told it in person that he needed to practice this in order to benefit the team, this secret method might cause great side effects to you.
It should also agree, and then even if it falls into the same situation, at least, there will be no more resentment in its heart.
But it just so happened that Wei Zhengdao would not say this at that time.
Because he was disgusted with this behavior, just like Li Chaiyuan now, every time he deliberately showed "human touch", he would feel very painful.
He and people like Wei Zhengdao reject this kind of emotional behavior in their bones.
The still peach blossoms continue to fall.
It waved its hand, feeling dejected.
Li Chaiyuan knew that his goal had been achieved, and the conversation about Wei Zhengdao ended at this moment.
Or, after both parties get the answers they want, the truth itself is not so important.
It turned around and walked towards the depths of the peach blossoms step by step.
Li Chaiyuan: "I will keep an eye on him, if I find that he still has a clean place, I will help him clean it up."
It nodded.
Li Chaiyuan: "That child, do you want to name it? I know you don't care about these things anymore, but sometimes, keeping more thoughts can also help you pass the time waiting for death."
"Foolish."
Foolish?
Xiong Yu?
Li Chaiyuan felt sorry for the child, how smart a baby he was, and he was given such a name.
However, he didn't know if the child would like this name when he grew up, he only knew that Xiong Shan and his wife would definitely be happy with this name.
This pair of reckless people have had enough of the hardships of not having a court, and their own ability and character do not support them to continue to break through this shackle, so they pour all their regrets into seeking refuge for their son.
Being willing to leave a name is a kind of recognition.
He took ten thousand steps back and said, when the child grows up and encounters something outside, he runs back to Nantong and kneels in front of the peach grove, regardless of who is chasing him, as long as it hasn't been killed and extinguished, then it will definitely not sit idly by.
Li Chaiyuan: "Then your nickname is Benben?"
It didn't say anything, and continued to walk deep into the peach forest, most of its figure had disappeared, but it could still be vaguely seen that it made a waving gesture.
It doesn't matter, it doesn't care, it goes with it, but it can also be understood as a kind of default: so be it.
Li Chaiyuan: What a hypocritical person.
Such a person will not join the team because he will not be able to stand its demonization.
You are already an emotionless person, and you still have to take care of its sentimentality?
From this point of view, when Wei Zhengdao was able to accept it to his side, he might have already made an inner compromise.
Most of the regrets stem from the immaturity at the beginning.
If Wei Zhengdao had also painted a team self-portrait at the beginning, if he could get it by chance in the future, he should be able to taste a lot of sadness when he looked at that painting.
It disappeared.
Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes, then opened them again, his trek to the underworld.
Xiong Shan and his wife knelt behind the altar, trembling.
Before them, all the peach blossoms in the peach orchard had fallen, leaving only bare branches.
Was it a death of heart, a letting go?
Except for Li Zhuiyuan, who could speculate in this direction, outsiders would never consider such factors, simply thinking that the person was angry.
The aura exuded by the previous emotional outburst made Xiong Shan and his wife sense that the other party could easily wipe them out.
Having lit the lamp and admitted defeat twice, they no longer possessed the courage to hold their heads high in the face of extreme danger.
This was also why Li Zhuiyuan would no longer allow them to participate in his trek to the river. They were not afraid of death, and were willing to die, but this kind of death actually contained a kind of cowardice and evasion.
But they also served as a mirror, allowing Li Zhuiyuan to see the other side of his failed trek to the river.
This also demonstrates Grandma Liu's ability. She forcibly revitalized Uncle Qin, who should have spent the rest of his life in decadence, and restored his spirit. Though he no longer possessed the sharpness of his former self, he also showed no trace of decadence.
Li Zhuiyuan approached the altar. Xiong Shan and Lihua, feeling reassured, felt as if they had found a pillar of support. They slowly stood up.
The young man held a piece of yellow paper, brought it to the candle, lit it, and casually tossed it forward. He spoke:
"The child has a name. It's Yu, Xiong Yu."
Xiong Shan and Lihua were stunned at first, then knelt again, prostrating themselves towards the peach grove.
They had come here to seek a future and protection for the child. They hadn't expected that, less than two nights later, they had already achieved this goal.
This place is truly a paradise.
"Let's go back. It's time to rest."
...
Xue Liangliang returned early in the morning.
He stayed at the riverside for the rest of the night, while Liu Changping slept in the car until dawn.
After returning Xue Liangliang, Liu Changping's chartered car mission was complete.
He could have stayed a few days longer, since his car rental fee was calculated on a daily basis, with gas extra.
But with the New Year approaching, his girlfriend's brother-in-law's return meant the post-New Year wedding arrangements had to be re-arranged, so he had to return to accompany her and treat her to drinks.
Xue Liangliang paid for the car on Tan Wenbin's behalf.
After all, the car was ostensibly for Xiaoyuan, but in reality, all the driving was his.
He wanted to give him another red envelope, but Liu Changping refused. However, he accepted some Nantong specialties from Li Sanjiang, which he loaded into the car.
Before leaving, Li Sanjiang, in accordance with Nantong custom, required a red envelope for first-time visitors, suggesting he wasn't treating him as a driver.
Liu Changping accepted it.
However, after driving off, he returned and bought a large amount of cigarettes and alcohol. Afraid Li Sanjiang wouldn't accept them, he left them on the widened road, honking his horn repeatedly. When he saw someone emerge from the house, he immediately drove off.
The cigarettes and alcohol were much more expensive than the local specialties and the small red envelope.
That morning, Aunt Zhang called Li Zhuiyuan to answer the phone.
Li Zhuiyuan went to answer it. It was Yin Meng who called.
"Brother Xiaoyuan, Grandma Liu said she'd take A-Li back to Nantong for the New Year, but since Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu haven't returned yet, she'll have to wait a while to come back and meet them."
"Okay, I see."
"That's it. We'll be leaving this afternoon."
"No rush."
"Hmm? Brother Xiaoyuan, please be more specific."
"I was careless when I called yesterday. Now everything's fine, and I'm in Nantong, so I'm safe.
So, you can go home later for the New Year.
Run Shengxian I'm still unable to get out of bed. Coming back in this state would be upsetting to my grandfather and Grandpa Shan.
Brother Binbin and Ah You, you can stay in school and finish your final exams. That way, you won't have to take make-up exams next year."
"Okay, Brother Xiaoyuan, I'll talk to them and report back."
"If they agree, there's no need to report. It'll save you the trouble."
"Okay, I understand."
Yin Meng hung up the phone, a hand resting on her chest, feeling her heart pounding.
She immediately went downstairs to inform everyone.
No one had any objections to the matter itself, but they were all shocked by Brother Xiaoyuan's rare gentleness.
Lin Shuyou: "Miss Qin Li isn't with Xiaoyuan, is she?"
Yin Meng: "No."
Lin Shuyou: "Then, Xiaoyuan, was something bothering you?"
Tan Wenbin: "How about, Mengmeng, you go back first. We can all take care of ourselves now. We can have Ah You and Lu Yi help take care of Runsheng. That's fine."
Runsheng nodded.
Yin Meng: "No, I don't trust Runsheng with other people."
After a pause, Yin Meng added: "Besides, Xiaoyuan has already given the order. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to rush back alone."
Tan Wenbin: "Alright, then. Let's do as Xiaoyuan says. I also need to check the exam schedule."
Checking the exam schedule isn't about confirming exam times for each subject, but about using your status as class monitor to establish connections with the corresponding teachers.
University exams have always had a high degree of flexibility. Whether or not to hold you back is often left to the discretion of the teachers.
Over the next few days, Tan Wenbin, leaning on his crutches, treated numerous teachers to meals and tea.
Teachers who hadn't outlined the exam scope did so, creating it.
Teachers who had already outlined it even provided specific sample questions.
The advanced math teacher, drunk and in high spirits, handed the exam directly to Tan Wenbin.
This embarrassed Tan Wenbin. Afraid the teacher might make a mistake, he tore up one set of papers, made three copies, and then distributed them to his classmates.
In short, while other classes were still nervous and anxious, Class 1 was experiencing a steady stream of success.
Tan Wenbin's status as class monitor was further elevated by the end of the semester.
After all, he hadn't done any of the tiresome tasks other monitors would have done, leaving them all to the class secretary. He also accomplished many of the good things other monitors weren't capable of.
Lin Shuyou's eyes had recovered enough to read and write, and he excitedly followed Tan Wenbin back to the dormitory, clutching a stack of photocopied papers.
"Brother Bin, if the counselors re-elect class monitor next semester, you'll definitely be re-elected with a crushing majority."
"If all the class monitors in the school were like me, this school would be a mess."
"Brother Bin, you don't have to say that about yourself."
"I'm just telling the truth. But you, kid, aren't you going back to Fujian for the New Year?"
"I'm going back to Nantong for the New Year, and then back to my hometown in Fujian after the New Year."
"Isn't that too late?"
"No, my family will celebrate the New Year again just because I'm back."
Zhou Yunyun stood waiting at the dormitory door, carrying a bag.
Lin Shuyou saw Zhou Yunyun and was as excited as a mouse seeing a cat.
"Hello, Sister Yun."
After greeting her without even looking up, Lin Shuyou ran into the dormitory with his test paper.
Tan Wenbin asked with some confusion, "That guy always seems to be afraid of you."
In the past, whenever he went to see Zhou Yunyun, Lin Shuyou would disappear for half the day. At first, Tan Wenbin thought he was sensible and knew not to be a third wheel. But then he realized something was amiss; it seemed he was deliberately avoiding Zhou Yunyun.
"I've washed all the dirty clothes in your dorm. These two are torn. I'll take them home, mend them, and then return them."
"Don't be like that. I'd be proud of you treating me like that."
"How's your injury?"
"It's okay. It's healing well. I shouldn't need crutches by the time I get home for the New Year."
"Then I'll be leaving. I have an exam this afternoon."
"Keep going. Try to get a scholarship."
"You too."
"I've been absent too many times. What I can't get should be given to someone more deserving."
Zhou Yunyun stepped forward, hugged Tan Wenbin, and then turned to leave.
Tan Wenbin stood there, watching the girl leave.
"Everyone's already gone, why are you still looking?"
The voice of his father, Tan Yunlong, came from behind.
"Dad, how long have you been here?"
"A while."
Tan Yunlong hid for a moment. After all, he saw his son's girlfriend helping him with his laundry, and as a father, he felt too embarrassed to step in. He couldn't just go up and say, "Let me help you."
"Dad, the cigarettes are in my pocket."
"You little brat." Tan Yunlong pulled a cigarette from his own pocket.
Tan Wenbin: "Take mine. I have Huazi in my pocket."
"Heh." Tan Yunlong reached into Tan Wenbin's pocket and pulled out an opened bottle of Huazi, one for himself and one for his son. "You're really improving your status so quickly."
"You've been busy trying to build relationships with the teacher lately. How could I not bring some good cigarettes?"
"Why do you always do such shameful things?"
Tan Yunlong had never liked flattery or building relationships in his life, but the result was a son who was so frivolous.
Tan Wenbin: "Fortunately, there aren't many black sheep like me in this society."
"It's good that you understand. By the way, your mother asked you, her, and Zhou Yunyun to go back together for the New Year."
"What about you? You're not going back? Director Tan, that's not right. Just after getting promoted, you've forgotten your folks back home?"
"I'm busy during the New Year, I can't spare the time."
"Then I can't either. I have someone here."
"Your son."
"Your father."
The father and son smoked together in silence.
Tan Yunlong could only say, "Then I'll take half a day to take your mother and the others back to Nantong."
"That's right."
"I really can't count on you." Tan Yunlong laughed after saying this.
He said it with a rather unconvincing tone.
"Dad, happy New Year!" Tan Wenbin bowed, then shoved the packet of Huazi into his father's pocket.
"You take it. It's not appropriate for me to carry. It's not a good influence."
"It's okay. I'll smoke it secretly in the office."
After returning to the dorm and doing some homework and memorizing the exam points, Tan Wenbin left on crutches and went to Grandma Liu's house.
The old lady had been in a better mood recently and loved chatting. She didn't like serious topics, but wanted to talk about family matters.
So Tan Wenbin had collected a lot of love stories from the school and also collected some family stories about the teachers from Fatty Wu.
Every time he went, he would chat with the old lady over sunflower seeds for an entire afternoon, and in the evening, he would enjoy a meal cooked by the chef at Songxianglou.
These days, he was on crutches and eating well, and he had put on several pounds of weight.
"Hey, old man, are you busy?"
"Hey, Mr. Tan is here."
After a brief greeting, Tan Wenbin ascended the stairs on crutches. As soon as he entered the main room, he set the tone:
"Old lady, that teacher I told you about last time who was having an affair with a student has been caught. Guess what happened..."
...
Li Zhuiyuan's life has been very regular lately.
Aside from taking walks with his grandfather around the village every morning and evening after dinner, he spends the rest of his time reviewing and organizing his previously mastered formations, feng shui, and magic.
As core understanding deepens, it must be adapted, otherwise it will end up like a horse-drawn carriage pulling a locomotive.
This is a very complex and tedious system.
For most people, core understanding lags behind application. When setting up formations and using magic, many people only know the basics but not the underlying principles.
Li Zhuiyuan is a special case. Even more special is that his core understanding, already at a high level, has been elevated to a new level.
This is the kind of happy trouble.
Xue Liangliang had lived here his entire life, and his routine was very regular.
Every day, he'd leave home before dawn on his tricycle and return just as darkness fell.
When he got home, he'd fall into a deep sleep, exhausted.
He went to bed early and rose early every day, leading a more fulfilling life than anyone else in the family.
This made his grandfather sigh, "It's almost Chinese New Year, and you're still so busy at work! It's really hard."
But from that day on, Xue Liangliang never left the house again. The village chief had called a meeting, and the village was going to allocate some residential land and hire workers to build houses in advance.
This was to accommodate the Three Gorges immigrants who would be relocated there in the future.
The village had its own professional builders, and Xue Liangliang volunteered to help, revising some of the house's details.
After all, each place's self-built houses have their own traditions, and Xue Liangliang hoped to preserve some of the immigrants' details, giving them a sense of home.
After revising the design, Xue Liangliang also joined in as a laborer. Seeing this, Xiong Shan left, and Lihua even went to help cook.
During their daily walks, Li Zhuiyuan would follow his great-grandfather to the construction site for a look.
As an older man, Li Sanjiang understood the difficulties of such resettlement.
In rural areas, most people, except for those attending school, couldn't even speak Mandarin, and the Nantong dialect was particularly difficult to learn and understand. Relocated outsiders had to guess and guess when trying to communicate with locals.
For things like houses and land, the government could compensate, but some things simply couldn't be replaced.
This afternoon, Li Sanjiang rode his tricycle, loaded with supplies and Li Zhuiyuan, to the town post office.
The items had been packed at home. Li Sanjiang took out a small notebook and asked Li Zhuiyuan to write the mailing address.
Each package contained New Year's goods and a letter from Li Zhuiyuan, written at Li Sanjiang's request, offering New Year's greetings and a thank-you note.
The mailing address was Shanghai.
That time, Li Sanjiang took Li Zhuiyuan to Shanghai for eye treatment. They received a lot of help along the way, and this was a token of gratitude. He had also sent a token of gratitude before the Lunar New Year last year.
It wasn't much, and it wasn't expensive. In Li Sanjiang's words, the fact that someone had helped him for no reason proved they weren't profit-seeking, and he was more willing to accept such a kind gesture.
After returning from the post office, Li Sanjiang rode his tricycle and took Li Zhuiyuan to Shigang Town to buy New Year's goods. They weren't for his family, but for Li Weihan and Cui Guiying.
After the shopping, he took Li Zhuiyuan to deliver them.
After all the hassles, it was already dark when they returned home.
Lihua was preparing dinner, and Xue Liangliang, who had worked all day, was bathing upstairs.
Li Zhuiyuan and his great-grandfather sat on the dam, watching TV.
Li Sanjiang pulled out a bag of walnuts from somewhere, cigarette in hand, and peeled them for his great-grandson.
Grandfather peeled one, and Li Zhuiyuan ate one, because Grandfather believed that eating walnuts could improve brain function.
The provincial TV station was broadcasting the news. With the Spring Festival approaching, reporters went to the shopping mall and department store for an interview, asking the usual questions.
The response was:
"The New Year is becoming increasingly boring. I can eat and buy anything on weekdays, and I don't feel like the New Year is anything special anymore."
"Compared to before, the New Year atmosphere is really fading."
Li Sanjiang handed the freshly peeled walnut to Li Zhuiyuan, looked up, and cursed in his dialect:
"You idiot."
Li Zhuiyuan was now familiar with the Nantong dialect and understood the curse words. This one meant someone was pretentious.
Xue Liangliang had just finished showering and was coming downstairs. He smiled and said,
"We're in the provincial capital, and we're interviewing in a department store, so the families we're interviewing must be well-off.
When people in the countryside start saying that the New Year atmosphere is fading and that celebrating the Lunar New Year is no longer meaningful, that will mean everyone is truly living a good life."
Currently, Li Sanjiang's family's living conditions are probably unique in the village, because Li Sanjiang earns a lot and spends generously.
When Li Zhuiyuan lived at home, he had all the snacks and drinks he could get, a privilege most children from dual-income families in the city would envy.
Li Zhuiyuan looked at Xue Liangliang: "Is the house built?"
Xue Liangliang nodded: "Yes, it is."
Sure enough, before dawn the next day, Xue Liangliang was out again on his tricycle.
The next day, Xue Liangliang didn't go out, but stayed home obediently.
Because Xue's parents had come.
Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang stood at the village road to greet them. As soon as Xue's parents got out of the taxi, before they had time to unload their belongings, they began to berate Xue Liangliang for asking them to take a taxi from the bus station. They wondered how much it would cost!
Originally, Xue Liangliang had planned to rent a car and pick them up from his hometown, but they refused, insisting on buying their own bus tickets.
But once they arrived at the Nantong bus station, they had no choice but to follow their son's instructions and take a taxi.
The two elderly people watched the meter tick by, their blood pressure rising.
Xue Liangliang, smiling, helped them carry their belongings.
The two elderly people continued their nagging and accusations until they reached the dam and saw Li Sanjiang. They immediately smiled and greeted him warmly.
Xue Liangliang took the opportunity to explain to his parents that he had only taken half a day off to wait for them and had to return to the project site.
Then, he rode away on his tricycle again.
Watching Brother Liangliang's graceful departure, Li Zhuiyuan felt he was a true warrior.
After packing up the west room, Xiong Shan and his wife happily moved into Big Beard's home.
Ever since their son was named "Xiong Yu" that night, the couple would go to Big Beard's house every evening to set up an altar and burn some paper.
Most of the day, Xiao Yingying took care of the child, except when they went to burn paper. Then, they would bring their son over, and afterward, they would return him to the coffin where Xiao Yingying lay.
However, the couple occasionally whispered to each other, and Li Zhuiyuan overheard them.
Something about why Lihua's stomach hadn't reacted yet.
The last time they had a child, it was an accident that hadn't been prevented. After all, they weren't crazy enough to create a child just to take it across the river.
So, logically, Lihua should have had an easier time getting pregnant.
With someone now caring for the child, the couple spent the day doing farm work and making paper figurines. Given their physical fitness, this little effort was a minor effort, leaving them with plenty of energy for their evening pursuits.
But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stir.
Li Zhuiyuan looked at the child in Little Yellow Ying's arms.
One can only say that some children's ability to be only children depends on national policies, while others rely on their own merits and luck.
Even in infancy, they were able to cut off the possibility of their father's and mother's love being divided at the source.
Although this wasn't the child's original intention, it was the influence of the person with luck.
The next day, Xiao Yingying and her child also moved to Big Beard's house. With Runsheng and his family back, she had to give up her coffin bed.
Yin Meng drove the three brothers back.
Runsheng was able to walk freely in the fields, but he couldn't work yet.
Tan Wenbin no longer needs a cane, but he still has to be careful with his steps.
Lin Shuyou wore glasses with reading glasses.
Li Sanjiang noticed something was amiss with the three mules and asked what happened. They explained they were at the amusement park riding a pirate ship when it derailed and they fell.
Xiaoyuan was a hard-working student and didn't go with them to the amusement park.
Li Sanjiang then asked if the amusement park had compensated them. When they said they had, he felt slightly satisfied.
But there was still some regret. The three mules, once sturdy and durable, were all sick after the Lunar New Year holiday. It was like a mule plague.
Grandpa Shan had also come to celebrate the Lunar New Year with them. He held Runsheng's hand and sighed with heartache.
Runsheng took out a New Year's gift from his pocket and gave it to Grandpa Shan.
Uncle Shan slapped him back and cursed, "You're in this state, how could I take your money? I can't take it!"
At noon, Aunt Zhang came over to call if anyone was playing Golden Flower.
Uncle Shan's face trembled, and he ran over to Runsheng, turned his back on him, and waved his hands.
Runsheng silently handed the money back to Uncle Shan.
Li Sanjiang saw this and cursed, "You old beast, what a piece of shit."
Uncle Shan blushed and twisted his neck, saying, "I'm saving money for my son."
Then Uncle Shan began to light his water pipe. He struck several matches, but none would light. He kept changing the direction, moving further and further away from the dam, and finally ran away to the gambling den.
Li Sanjiang cursed Runsheng, "You're crazy! You actually gave him money."
Runsheng just smiled innocently.
He had given the money specifically to Shan Da Ye, so that he could happily spend the New Year playing.
Before the store's winter break, they calculated the accounts and distributed the profits, and he received a large sum.
He kept a third to buy rice, flour, grain, and oil for his grandfather's family, as well as to give as gifts for playing cards.
The rest he gave to Yin Meng, so she could go shopping for clothes.
After all, he wasn't in the habit of spending money himself, so keeping the money on hand was pointless.
The next morning, Liu Yumei and her family returned.
The old lady had changed her clothes from her time in Jinling and returned to her rural attire.
Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu had also returned, both still remarkably dusty.
They had hurried back after digging up the ancestral grave.
The crowds on the dam were so numerous, and Ah Li wasn't pleased. But when Li Zhuiyuan approached and took her hand, Ah Li smiled, her eyes fixed on the young man.
Li Sanjiang took out his key with a smile and went to unlock the east room.
It was spotlessly clean.
Because Li Sanjiang had secretly unlocked the room and cleaned it.
He was embarrassed to do it openly. What if he finished and no one showed up? That would be too embarrassing.
Now he felt pretty good, especially since he noticed that when his great-grandson and the girl walked hand in hand to the second-floor terrace, the old lady didn't seem jealous at all, but instead smiled.
Hey, this philistine old lady has actually changed her ways!
The east room also had one living room and two bedrooms. Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu lived together in the south room.
Li Sanjiang suggested they stay at Big Beard's house, where there were plenty of vacancies, but the old lady declined, saying they could accommodate them.
The main thing was that they all knew each other's existence, so there was no need to deliberately have Ali and Ting live right next to them. It would be a tyranny.
The whole family didn't sleep together at night, but they had to eat together, so the kitchen was bustling with activity.
Aunt Liu had returned to her old job, and she was used to using the kitchen stove.
Lihua willingly helped out, even more modestly than an apprentice.
When Uncle Qin had nothing to do during the day, he would push the cart to deliver goods. During the Lunar New Year, with so many banquets, he had to deliver almost every day.
Xiong Shan assisted Uncle Qin.
The couple was fair, and neither dared to breathe heavily while working.
After dinner, the old lady liked to set up a small table for Xue's parents and the others to chat around.
The old lady especially loved to hear Xue's parents talk about their son, who wasn't married yet, didn't have children, and was still looking forward to having grandchildren.
Because the old lady knew the Bai family member was pregnant, the more she listened, the more amused she became, and she couldn't even eat enough sunflower seeds.
Li Zhuiyuan and A'li would stroll around the village, occasionally visiting Cuicui's home.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, Xue Liangliang took his parents to see the Yangtze River and the sea.
In the car, the three of them had a rare moment alone.
Xue's mother curiously asked, "Who is that old lady in the family?"
Xue Liangliang was stunned for a moment and asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Xue's father said, "She must be a prominent figure."
"Mom and Dad, do you feel pressured to ride with her?"
Mother Xue quickly shook her head. "For someone like that to sit and chat with us is something we'd love to have."
Dad Xue nodded. "That's right."
The old lady had been quite self-effacing, but some things couldn't be abandoned. As soon as she sat down, everyone naturally came to her.
Whatever she wanted to hear, everyone had to say.
Mother Xue had a lot to say to their son, but after repeating it to the old lady over the past two days, it was like sugarcane being chewed over and over again, leaving them with no energy to lecture him.
Xue Liangliang first took his parents to Wolf Mountain to burn incense. From the summit, they admired the magnificent view of the Yangtze River merging into the sea.
After returning to the car after descending the mountain, Mother Xue said that they had prayed for their son to marry and have children soon.
Xue Liangliang nodded immediately. "I've heard that Wolf Mountain is very spiritual!"
Then, Xue Liangliang drove to the riverside he often visited and took his parents for a walk along the shore.
The expansive river view was calming. Holding hands, Xue's parents reminisced about their youth and Xue Liangliang's childhood.
Xue Liangliang followed.
Behind them, a curtain of water slowly rose from the river, bowing to the two elderly people in front.
She was still wearing her wedding dress, but she had recently applied lipstick, applied new powder, and even added a complete set of jewelry, a phoenix crown.
The two elderly people were completely unaware.
Xue Liangliang stopped and looked at her. She was looking back at him.
Though they didn't speak, they seemed to hear each other's thoughts simultaneously:
"I'm sorry for that."
"I'm sorry for that."
After the curtain of water receded and the river returned to calm,
Xue Liangliang unconsciously straightened his chest, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.
Xiaoyuan had said that some formalities also hold meaning.
He felt it now.
At this moment, he felt he had grown up, truly understanding the true meaning of responsibility and accountability.
If before, he had simply lived and worked based on his unique vision and passion, now he had begun to truly plan his life.
This river, this water, these waves...this beautiful land.
Starting next year,
he would tame them, transform them, and build them.
With his junior fellow apprentice, Xiaoyuan...together!
…
Zhou Yunyun had arrived; her home in Shigang was already quite close.
Plus, Tan Wenbin had already visited. Although they weren't officially engaged and hadn't held a wedding banquet, both families had tacitly agreed.
As for their age, it wasn't uncommon in the countryside for children of their age to be around.
Li Sanjiang took them to pay their respects to the two.
Their tombs were built like courtyard houses. Though small, they still had several entrances and exits.
One was large, the other small. Placed in the local cemetery, they were considered first-rate, luxurious burial sites.
During the construction of the tombs, there was some trouble. Villagers reported them, and not only did village officials come to the scene, but town officials were also dispatched.
After all, in today's world, building a smaller tomb would be fine, but to build something so extravagant was simply excessive, with so many eyes watching.
Since everyone's lives were improving, wouldn't it be a mess if future tombs were built to match this standard?
In the end, Li Sanjiang had no choice but to come up with a new explanation for the road construction money.
It was true that the overseas Chinese provided the money, but he was merely a middleman. The real donors were the two people who wanted to return to their homeland.
Anyway, Ding Dalin hadn't been heard from since he gave him the money to plant peach trees, so he could make up whatever he wanted.
Now, the town officials had nothing to say. These days, local governments offer countless preferential terms to attract foreign investment.
They donated money for road and bridge construction, provided for the elderly and widowed, and subsidized their children's schooling. Giving such a large sum just for two graves wasn't excessive, was it?
And so, in this way, the two fathers-in-law "settled down" in Siyuan Village.
When Li Sanjiang led everyone there, he discovered traces of candles and paper burning on the two graves, and the surrounding weeds had been cleared.
Many villagers must have made a point of visiting these graves during the Lunar New Year to offer sacrifices.
Many contemporary writers like to deliberately exaggerate the evils revealed by resource shortages in rural areas.
Throughout history, most shrines have been built in rural areas. How many of these have made it to the city?
People are kindhearted; they appreciate kindness. Li Sanjiang set up the altar, and Tan Wenbin led Zhou Yunyun to kowtow.
This was what he had promised his "godfather."
Seeing Li Zhuiyuan standing there motionless, Li Sanjiang quickly waved, "Little Marquis Yuan, you should kowtow too. Share in the blessings. These two are good people, and they can protect you."
Li Zhuiyuan looked hesitant.
Tan Wenbin quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Uncle Li, let's be clear. These are my saviors. My kowtow is sufficient."
Li Sanjiang: "What nonsense!"
With this, Li Sanjiang faced the two graves, holding a burning incense stick:
"You two have done good things for our village by building a road and bridge. I, Li Sanjiang, am grateful for your kindness. On this New Year's Day, I kowtow to you."
Li Sanjiang knelt, then turned to Li Zhuiyuan and waved again.
It was indeed inappropriate for him to stand when his grandfather was already kneeling.
Li Zhuiyuan could only begin to bend his knees, but before they even touched the ground, he heard a loud clatter:
"Crack!"
Two exquisite tombs, one large and one small, and the roof of the main house, simultaneously cracked!
"Ouch!"
Li Sanjiang didn't even bother to kowtow. He hurried forward to investigate, then instructed Tan Wenbin to call the village mason. He had to repair the damage before nightfall.
When Li Zhuiyuan returned home, he found Liu Jinxia there, and Aunt Xianghou helping in the kitchen.
Liu Jinxia, always known for her fiery temper, spoke softly in front of Liu Yumei. She had heard more than her fair share of domestic gossip in her lifetime, and her own family was a veritable book.
Liu Yumei listened with rapt interest.
Cuicui and A'li were playing Gomoku on the second-floor terrace.
"Brother Yuanhou, hehe, look, this is the bracelet Sister A'li gave me. Isn't it beautiful?"
Cuicui showed Li Zhuiyuan the wooden bracelet on her left wrist.
The color of the bracelet...remarkably resembled the complexions of the ancestors of the Qin and Liu families.
Li Zhuiyuan glanced at it, then looked back at A'li.
Being able to shift one's attention away from a single person was in itself a sign of improvement.
Li Zhuiyuan had considered finding a hard gold object to suppress Cuicui's fate. While this wooden bracelet wouldn't have a lasting effect, it would at least help for several years.
"Cuicui, wear this bracelet every day from now on. Don't take it off."
"Of course, I wouldn't be willing to take it off."
Before the New Year's Eve dinner, Tan Wenbin, Lin Shuyou, and the others were going to call home to wish their families a happy new year. Xue Liangliang also dragged Li Zhuiyuan along to call Luo Gong.
Tan Wenbin called his father first, then Lin Shuyou called home.
The line was bustling with activity, accompanied by the sound of drums and gongs. During the Lunar New Year holiday, the temple was bustling with activity, and a medium had already arrived, blessing and removing the evil spirits from the "patient."
It was Lin Shuyou's grandfather who answered the phone, offering him earnest instructions.
A ceremony had just concluded, and the people on the other end began to thank the medium, saying, "Sir, you've worked hard."
Next to him, Li Zhuiyuan was chatting with Xue Liangliang about his day's schedule. Upon learning that Xue Liangliang had taken her parents to the riverside so she could meet them and pay her respects, Li Zhuiyuan said, "You've worked hard, too."
An exclamation came from Lin Shuyou's end.
"Oh no! The boy has fallen, fallen!"
Lin Shuyou's grandfather had no choice but to quickly say, "Something happened at the temple. Stay safe in Nanguan for the New Year. Don't worry about your family."
With that, he immediately hung up the phone and went to deal with it.
Lin Shuyou blinked and hung up.
Next, Xue Liangliang called Luo Gong and, along with Li Zhuiyuan, wished him a happy new year.
Normally, a teacher-student relationship wouldn't reach this level, but theirs was special. Master, master, only a father would truly worry about his child's future.
Xue Liangliang had bought a lot of fireworks in advance, all the box-sized kind.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone started setting off fireworks.
In those days, aside from the small cannons children played with, fireworks were considered a luxury. Only the well-off in the countryside would buy some, and they didn't last long.
The Li Sanjiang Basin became the most dazzling spot in the village tonight. Many villagers left their homes to come and enjoy the fireworks.
After one batch was set off, another was brought out from the house, and everyone took turns to try their hand at it, even choosing the style.
Even Tan Wenbin couldn't help but ask Xue Liangliang curiously, "Brother Liang, how many fireworks did you buy?"
Xue Liangliang shrugged, "All I need."
Tan Wenbin gave a thumbs-up, "Brother Liang, you're very generous."
Then Tan Wenbin leaned over and whispered, "That must have cost a lot of money, right?"
Everyone knew Xue Liangliang was wealthy, but he didn't enjoy business, so even if he had money, he shouldn't have spent it like this.
Xue Liangliang: "According to Western economic development patterns, I believe the domestic stock market will definitely be established and developed. So last year, I asked a friend to help me collect a lot of stock warrants."
Tan Wenbin: "Is this thing valuable now?"
Xue Liangliang: "Not bad."
Under a sky full of fireworks, Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li stood hand in hand on the second-floor terrace.
Li Zhuiyuan alternated between looking at the dazzling sky and the intoxicating gaze in the girl's eyes.
"Next year, I'll be very busy and will be out a lot."
The girl didn't speak, but gently squeezed the boy's hand in response.
"But I'll always come back after I'm done."
The girl turned and faced the boy.
"Look at Brother Liangliang. Even when he was busy, he never stopped him from returning to Nantong. With him, I'll be back quite often."
The girl lowered her head, and the boy did the same, their foreheads gently touching.
"Are they still quarreling?"
The girl closed her eyes.
The boy closed his eyes, too.
The next moment, Li Zhuiyuan appeared in Ah Li's dream.
Outside, the thick fog had receded so far that at first glance, it looked like clouds hanging in the sky.
Li Zhuiyuan took Ah Li's hand and stepped over the threshold.
The young man took out the white lantern stuck in the crack of the wall and led the girl forward.
This was the wilderness, this was the stream. The scenery here should have been beautiful, like a girl who had grown up healthily.
As Li Zhuiyuan advanced, the thick fog in the distance swirled and swirled, as if swarming back. Not only did no one dare approach, no one dared to stand in the front row.
For fear of being caught out by the young man's lantern again.
Not many people cared about the process; most focused on the results, which themselves were part of the "result."
Although Li Zhuiyuan's reputation in the underworld remained relatively unknown, beneath the undercurrent of the river, these "snakes, insects, rats, and ants" had begun to fear him.
Just like in reality, Liu Yumei felt relaxed and happy.
Because, the Dragon King's ancestral home of the Qin and Liu families was being reestablished, step by step.
Soon,
the entire Jianghu would recall the terrifying presence of Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu.
Li Zhuiyuan ignited a karmic fire in his palm, consuming the white lantern.
The young man threw it forward, and the lantern shattered, transforming into a ball of brilliant rainbow clouds, stirring up the surrounding mist.
The fireworks in this dream were truly no less dazzling than those in reality.
Li Zhuiyuan clapped his hands, looked up, and gazed at the clouds, stained with color by the fireworks.
He said:
"Hide well. From today on, it will be my turn to seek you out."
—
End of this chapter.