Chapter 166 (Volume Complete)

All around, the originally falling peach blossoms stilled.

Its figure also followed suit, hunching down.

An apology itself has no actual meaning.

Its only role is to draw a close to a period, within the premise of one party being tired, weary, and exhausted.

Wei Zhengdao made no error in imparting the **Hei Pi Shu**.

Since it wanted to learn, he taught.

But this is just a grand statement on the surface.

Putting himself in Wei Zhengdao’s shoes from Li Zhuoyuan’s perspective, he could roughly speculate that at that time, Wei Zhengdao didn’t truly care about his companions.

Wei Zhengdao at that time should not have truly known about the side effects of the **Hei Pi Shu** secret method, but with his intelligence, did he really not bother to think about this aspect?

He was probably too lazy to do so, feeling it was unnecessary.

Or, relying on this secret method for a short time allowed his companions to achieve explosive growth in strength, which was beneficial to their group.

Under the peach tree, the source of its anger was really about bearing the side effects of the secret method by itself?

What truly troubled and tormented it was precisely because in its long and painful career of self-suppression, it repeatedly recalled and chewed on that period of years spent on the ground, thus gradually drawing a conclusion:

He actually didn’t treat it as a friend.

What angered it even more was that even after so many years, and experiencing such things, deep down in its heart, it still couldn’t let go of him.

In its neither human nor ghost state, it still hoped he could die cleanly and with dignity.

Li Zhuoyuan could understand its state. If he hadn’t met A Li first, then his approach to Tan Wenbin, Runsheng, and the others would probably have been the same as Wei Zhengdao’s initial approach.

It is a past Tan Wenbin or Runsheng.

If Wei Zhengdao had personally told it initially that it needed to practice this for the team’s benefit, and this secret method might cause significant side effects,

it probably would have agreed. Even if it fell into the same situation, at least, there would be no resentment in its heart.

But precisely, Wei Zhengdao at that time wouldn’t say such words.

Because he disliked such behavior, just like Li Zhuoyuan now, every time he deliberately showed “human touch,” he felt very pained.

He and people like Wei Zhengdao are inherently resistant to such emotional behavior.

The peach blossoms continued to fall.

It waved its hand, interest waning.

Li Zhuoyuan knew his purpose had been achieved. The talk about Wei Zhengdao ended at this moment.

Or, after both sides obtained the answers they wanted, the truth itself was no longer that important.

It turned around and walked step by step into the depths of the peach blossoms.

Li Zhuoyuan: “I will watch. If I find any remaining uncleanness in him, I will help him clean it up thoroughly.”

It nodded.

Li Zhuoyuan: “That child, do you want to give him a name? I know you don’t care about these things, but sometimes, leaving more thoughts can also make the time waiting for death easier to pass.”

“Ignorant.”

Ignorant?

Bear Ignorant?

Li Zhuoyuan felt sorry for that child. He was clearly such a smart child, yet given such a name.

However, he didn’t know if the child would like this name after growing up. He only knew that the Xiong Shan couple would definitely rejoice at this name.

This pair of ordinary folk from the Jianghu, having suffered enough from lacking family background, and their own abilities and character not supporting them in breaking through these shackles, poured all their regrets into seeking shelter for their son.

Being willing to leave a name is a form of recognition.

To take a step back, if the child grows up later and encounters any trouble outside, he can run back to Nantong and kneel in front of the peach tree forest. No matter who is chasing him, as long as it hasn’t been suppressed and vanished, it will definitely not stand by and watch.

Li Zhuoyuan: “Then shall we just call him Stupid Stupid as a nickname?”

It didn’t speak, continuing to walk into the depths of the peach forest. Its figure had already disappeared halfway, but it could still vaguely see it making a waving gesture.

It was indifference, not caring, letting it be, but it could also be understood as a kind of default: so be it.

Li Zhuoyuan: Truly a pretentious person.

He wouldn’t recruit such a person into his team, because he wouldn’t be able to tolerate their troublesome nature.

He was already a person without emotions, yet he needed to spare his mind to take care of their sentimental nature?

From this point of view, the initial Wei Zhengdao being able to accept it by his side perhaps already indicated an inner compromise.

Most regrets stem from initial immaturity.

If Wei Zhengdao had also drawn a team self-portrait initially, if he could fortunately obtain it later, when viewing that painting, he should be able to taste a full sense of regret.

It disappeared.

Li Zhuoyuan closed his eyes, then opened them again, ending his **zou yin**.

The Xiong Shan couple were kneeling prostrate behind the altar table, trembling.

Because in front, all the peach blossoms in the peach forest had fallen, leaving only bare branches.

Was it heart dead, or letting go?

Except for Li Zhuoyuan who could make a guess in this direction, outsiders fundamentally wouldn’t consider this factor. They would only feel that it was angry.

Under the earlier surging emotions, the revealed aura made the Xiong Shan couple feel that the other side could erase them with just a thought.

Having admitted defeat by lighting the lamp for the second time, they no longer possessed the courage to raise their heads in the face of extreme danger.

This is also why Li Zhuoyuan would not let them participate in his **zou jiang** again. They were not afraid of death and were willing to die, but this death actually contained a kind of cowardice and escape.

But they were also a mirror, allowing Li Zhuoyuan to see the other side of **zou jiang’s** failure.

From here, one can also see Grandma Liu’s ability. She managed to pull back Uncle Qin, who should have been in decline for the rest of his life, and restore his spirit. Although he didn’t regain his past sharpness, he also didn’t show signs of twilight depression.

Li Zhuoyuan walked to the front of the altar table. Xiong Shan and Lihua, as if finding their backbone, stabilized their hearts and slowly stood up.

The young man held yellow paper, approached the candle to light it, then casually threw it forward, and said:

“The child has a name, called Ignorant, Xiong Ignorant.”

Xiong Shan and Lihua were first in a daze, then immediately knelt down again, kowtowing towards the peach tree forest.

Their purpose in coming here was just to seek a future shelter for their child. They truly didn’t expect that in less than two nights, this goal would be achieved.

Here, it truly is a blessed land.

“Go back, you should rest.”

…

Xue Liangliang returned in the early morning.

He stayed by the river for the entire second half of the night. Liu Changping slept in the car until dawn.

After sending Xue Liangliang back, Liu Changping’s chartered car mission for this time was considered complete.

Originally, he could have stayed a few more days. Anyway, his chartered car fee was calculated per day, and the fuel cost was paid separately.

But it was near New Year’s, and his partner’s little brother-in-law was coming back. After New Year’s, the marriage process needed to be discussed again, so he needed to go back and be present. In addition, he still needed to treat his little brother-in-law to a drink.

Xue Liangliang paid the chartered car fee for Tan Wenbin.

After all, this car was ostensibly chartered for Xiao Yuan, but in reality, it was used for his matters.

He originally wanted to give another red envelope, but Liu Changping firmly refused. However, Li Sanjiang wanted to give him some Nantong local products, and he didn’t refuse, packing them all into the car.

Before leaving, Li Sanjiang, according to Nantong local customs, gave a red envelope to the “boy” on the first visit. This showed he didn’t treat him as a driver.

Liu Changping accepted.

However, after driving away, he came back again, bought quite a bit of tobacco and wine. Afraid that Li Sanjiang wouldn’t accept, he just placed them on the already widened road, continuously honked the horn, and after seeing someone come out of the house, he immediately drove away.

The price of this tobacco and wine was likely much more expensive than the local products and that small red envelope.

In the morning, Aunt Zhang came to call Li Zhuoyuan to answer the phone.

Li Zhuoyuan went to answer. It was Yin Meng calling.

“Xiao Yuan brother, Grandma Liu said she will bring A Li back to Nantong for New Year’s, but because Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu haven’t returned yet, she needs to wait a while longer before returning, waiting for them to come back together.”

“Um, I knew.”

“Just this matter, we will set off to go back in the afternoon.”

“No hurry.”

“Um? Xiao Yuan brother, please be specific.”

“It was my negligence when I called yesterday. Now, it doesn’t matter anyway. I’m in Nantong again, very safe.

So, you all can also go home for New Year’s a bit later.

Runsheng still can’t get out of bed now. Returning in this state will make my great-grandfather and Shan great-grandfather sad.

Binbin brother and A You can continue to stay at school and finish the final exams, so they don’t need to take makeup exams at the start of the next semester.”

“Okay, Xiao Yuan brother, I’ll go and tell them a bit, then report back to you.”

“If they agree, no need to report, saves trouble.”

“Um, understand.”

Yin Meng hung up the phone, put one hand on her chest, feeling her heart pounding.

She immediately went downstairs to inform everyone about this matter.

Everyone had no opinion on the matter itself, but they were all shocked by Xiao Yuan brother’s rare gentleness.

Lin Shuyou: “Miss Qin Li is not with Xiao Yuan brother, right?”

Yin Meng: “Not with.”

Lin Shuyou: “Then Xiao Yuan brother, received some kind of stimulation?”

Tan Wenbin: “Or, Mengmeng, you go back first. The several of us can take care of ourselves. Just let A You and Lu Yi help take care of Runsheng. It’s also not a problem.”

Runsheng nodded.

Yin Meng: “No, I won’t be at ease if Runsheng is taken care of by others.”

She paused, then added: “Moreover, Xiao Yuan brother has already instructed, and I’ll go back alone rashly, which is inappropriate.”

Tan Wenbin: “Alright then, just follow Xiao Yuan brother’s instructions. I also need to go check the exam schedule.”

Checking the exam schedule was not to clarify the exam times for each subject, but to find the corresponding teachers and build relationships as the class monitor.

The freedom of exams within universities is always very high. Whether it’s strict or not depends on the teacher’s inclination.

In the next few days, Tan Wenbin, leaning on crutches, went to treat many teachers to meals and tea.

Teachers who hadn’t outlined the exam scope, therefore outlined it.

Teachers who had already outlined the scope, gave out more specific sample questions.

The Higher Mathematics teacher got drunk and happy, and directly gave the exam paper to Tan Wenbin.

This made Tan Wenbin very embarrassed. Afraid that the teacher had made a mistake, he himself tore up that set of papers and supplemented them into three sets, copied them well, and handed them to his classmates.

Anyway, while other classes were in a state of nervous anxiety, Class One here was filled with “good news.”

Tan Wenbin’s class monitor status was further elevated in the end.

After all, the troublesome matters other class monitors would do, he didn’t do any, handing them all to the class committee secretary. The good things other class monitors were unable to do, he did many of.

Lin Shuyou’s eyes recovered to the point where he could read and write. He excitedly hugged a stack of copied papers and followed Tan Wenbin back to the dormitory.

“Bin brother, if the counselor re-elects the class monitor next semester, you will definitely be re-elected with overwhelming advantage.”

“If all the class monitors in the school were like me, how chaotic this school would become.”

“Bin brother, you don’t need to say that about yourself.”

“What I’m saying is just the fact. Instead, you boy, aren’t you going back to Fujian for New Year’s?”

“I’m going back to Nantong for New Year’s. After the year, I’ll go back to my hometown in Fujian.”

“That won’t be late?”

“No, home will celebrate New Year’s again because of my return.”

Zhou Yunyun was waiting at the dormitory door with a bag.

Lin Shuyou saw Zhou Yunyun, like a mouse seeing a cat.

“Sister Yun, good.”

After greeting without lifting his head, Lin Shuyou hugged the papers and ran into the dormitory.

Tan Wenbin said with some doubt: “This boy always seems quite afraid of you.”

Every time he went to find Zhou Yunyun before, Lin Shuyou would disappear for half a day. Initially, Tan Wenbin thought this boy was sensible and knew not to be a third wheel, but later he realized something wasn’t quite right. This boy seemed to deliberately avoid Zhou Yunyun.

“I’ve washed all your dirty clothes in the dormitory. These two pieces of clothing are broken. I’ll take them back, mend them for you, and send them back.”

“Don’t be like that. If you’re like that to me, I’ll get arrogant.”

“Your injury, still good?”

“Still okay, recovering well. Should not need to lean on crutches before going home for New Year’s.”

“Then I’ll go back first. I still have an exam this afternoon.”

“**Jiayou**, strive for a scholarship.”

“You too.”

“I’ve been absent too much, can’t get one. Should leave it to more worthy people.”

Zhou Yunyun stepped forward, hugged Tan Wenbin briefly, then turned to leave.

Tan Wenbin just stood in place, watching the girl’s retreating back.

“She’s already gone far, still looking?”

His birth father, Tan Yunlong’s voice came from behind.

“Dad, how long have you been here?”

“A while.”

Tan Yunlong hid for a while. After all, seeing his son’s partner helping his son wash clothes, as a father, he really couldn’t show his face. He couldn’t possibly go up and say: “I’ll come and help you wash together?”

“Dad, the cigarettes are in my pants pocket.”

“Smelly boy.” Tan Yunlong took out a pack of cigarettes from his own pocket.

Tan Wenbin: “Smoke mine, mine is Huazi.”

“Heh.” Tan Yunlong reached into Tan Wenbin’s pocket and took out an opened pack of Huazi. He lit one for himself and one for his son. “Your taste has really improved quickly.”

“I’ve been busy building relationships with teachers lately. How can I not smoke some good cigarettes?”

“Why do you only do this kind of underhanded stuff?”

He, Tan Yunlong, disliked flattering and building relationships his whole life. Yet the son he gave birth to was so crafty.

Tan Wenbin: “It’s still good. There aren’t many black sheep like me in this society.”

“As long as you know it. By the way, your mom wants you, her, and Zhou Yunyun to go back together for New Year’s.”

“Then you? Aren’t you going back? Director Tan, this isn’t right. Just got promoted and forgot your folks back home?”

“New Year’s is busy. I can’t leave.”

“Then I also can’t. I have people here.”

“You boy.”

“You old man.”

Father and son silently smoked together.

Tan Yunlong could only say: “Then I’ll take half a day off to send your mom and the others back to Nantong.”

“That’s just right.”

“Really can’t count on you.” After saying this sentence, Tan Yunlong himself laughed.

He said these words with no confidence.

“Dad, early New Year.” Tan Wenbin cupped his hand, then stuffed that pack of Huazi into his birth father’s pocket.

“You take it. It’s not appropriate for me to bring this. Bad influence.”

“It’s fine. Just hide in your office and smoke secretly.”

Back at the dormitory, after doing some problems and reciting some exam points, Tan Wenbin again leaned on crutches and went out to Grandma Liu’s house.

The old lady’s mood had been getting better and better recently. She liked to find people to chat with, and not about serious topics. She wanted to chat about family trivial matters.

So Tan Wenbin specially collected many romantic stories from school, and also collected some teachers’ family gossip from Wu Fatty.

Every time he went, he would chat with the old lady while munching on melon seeds for an afternoon. In the evening, he would also enjoy a meal of Chef Songxiang’s cooking.

These days, leaning on crutches and eating well, he gained several pounds.

“Yo, old man, busy?”

“Ai, Mr. Tan is here.”

After a simple greeting, Tan Wenbin leaned on crutches and went upstairs. As soon as he entered the open room, he set the atmosphere:

“Old lady, the last time I told you about the teacher who dated a student, the matter was discovered, guess how…”

…

Li Zhuoyuan’s recent life was very regular.

Except for accompanying his great-grandfather for a walk in the village every morning and evening after meals, he spent the rest of his time re-studying and organizing the arrays, feng shui, and techniques he had previously mastered.

With a deeper inner understanding, he just needed to re-adapt, otherwise, it would be like a carriage pulling a train engine.

This was a very complex and tedious systematic project.

Because for most people, their inner understanding lags behind their application level. Many people arrange arrays and use techniques in a state of knowing what but not why.

Li Zhuoyuan was an exception, and even more exceptional was that his inner understanding could rise a large section on top of an already very high level.

This belonged to, happy trouble.

Xue Liangliang had been living here. His life was also very regular.

Every day before dawn, he would ride his three-wheeler out of the house, and return when it was almost completely dark.

After coming back, he would just snore in his sleep, tired out.

Early to bed and early to rise every day, his life was more substantial than anyone at home.

It made his great-grandfather sigh: “It’s almost New Year’s, and the boy is still so busy with work, really not easy.”

However, from that day on, Xue Liangliang didn’t go out again, because the village chief convened a meeting. The village wanted to allocate some homesteads and asked people to build houses in advance.

This was to settle the Three Gorges immigrants who would be relocated later.

There were professional people to build houses in the village. Xue Liangliang volunteered to modify some details in the house design.

After all, self-built houses in each place have local traditions. Xue Liangliang hoped to retain some details of the immigrants’ houses to make them feel more at home.

After modifying the design, Xue Liangliang also joined in as a laborer.

Seeing the situation, Xiong Shan went, and Lihua also went to help cook.

Every day during their walk, Li Zhuoyuan would follow his great-grandfather to the construction site to take a look.

Li Sanjiang, being old, understood even more that this relocation was not easy.

In the countryside, except for the children who went to school, most people couldn’t even speak Mandarin, and the Nantong dialect was the hardest to learn and understand. Outsiders relocating here would need to gesticulate and guess to even chat with the locals.

Things like houses and land could be compensated by the country, but some things really couldn’t be compensated.

This afternoon, Li Sanjiang rode his three-wheeler, carrying a car full of things and Li Zhuoyuan, and went to the town post office.

The things were already packed at home. Li Sanjiang took out a small notebook and let Li Zhuoyuan write the mailing address.

Each parcel was packed with New Year’s goods, and there was also a letter that Li Zhuoyuan wrote according to Li Sanjiang’s instructions, with New Year’s blessings and words of thanks.

The mailing destination was Shanghai.

At that time, Li Sanjiang took Li Zhuoyuan to Shanghai to see the world and received a lot of help along the way. This was returning the favor. He had also mailed things before New Year’s last year.

The things were not many and not expensive. In Li Sanjiang’s words, people who initially helped you without expecting anything in return prove that they were not originally people seeking profit, and they were more willing to accept this kind of intention.

After returning from the post office, Li Sanjiang again rode his three-wheeler, carrying Li Zhuoyuan to Shigang Town to buy New Year’s goods. They weren’t for his own home, but for Li Weihan and Cui Guiying.

After buying, he took Li Zhuoyuan to deliver them.

After a long journey, when they returned home, it was already dark.

Lihua was preparing dinner. Xue Liangliang, who had worked all day, was showering upstairs.

Li Zhuoyuan and his great-grandfather sat on the threshing ground, watching TV.

Li Sanjiang didn’t know where he took out a pack of walnuts. He bit a cigarette in his mouth and peeled them for his great-grandson.

His great-grandfather peeled one, and Li Zhuoyuan ate one, because his great-grandfather felt that eating walnuts could supplement the brain.

The provincial station was broadcasting news on TV. Spring Festival was approaching. Reporters went to malls and department stores for interviews, asking some classic questions,

The response was:

“New Year’s is getting more and more meaningless this year. We can eat and buy everything we want at ordinary times. It feels like there’s nothing special about New Year’s anymore.”

“Compared to before, the New Year’s flavor is really getting lighter and lighter.”

Li Sanjiang put the peeled walnuts in front of Li Zhuoyuan, raised his head to look, and scolded in dialect:

“装逼日像的东西.” (A pretentious person)

Li Zhuoyuan was already familiar with the Nantong dialect and understood swear words. This sentence was used to describe someone who was pretentious.

Xue Liangliang had just finished showering and came downstairs at this time, smiling and saying:

“They are from the provincial capital, and they are being interviewed in a department store, so the conditions of the interviewed families are definitely good.

Wait until people in the countryside also say that the New Year’s flavor is getting lighter and lighter and that New Year’s is meaningless. That just means that everyone’s life is truly getting better.”

At present, among the villagers, Li Sanjiang’s family’s living conditions should be uniquely first-class, because Li Sanjiang earned a lot and was also willing to spend.

When Li Zhuoyuan lived at home, he had enough snacks and drinks. This was a treat envied by kids in most double-income families in the city.

Li Zhuoyuan looked at Xue Liangliang: “The houses are built well?”

Xue Liangliang nodded: “Um, built well.”

Sure enough, before dawn the next day, Xue Liangliang rode his three-wheeler out again.

Another day passed, and Xue Liangliang didn’t go out, but stayed obediently at home.

Because Xue dad and Xue mom were coming.

Li Zhuoyuan and Xue Liangliang stood on the village road to welcome them. Xue dad and Xue mom had just gotten out of the taxi. They hadn’t even unloaded their things yet when they started blaming Xue Liangliang for letting them take a taxi from the bus station to here. How much money did that cost!

Originally, Xue Liangliang had planned to rent a car to go to their hometown to pick them up, but they refused, insisting on buying bus tickets and coming over themselves.

But after arriving at the Nantong bus station, they had no choice and took a taxi as instructed by their son.

Along the way, the two elders watched the numbers on the meter constantly jumping, and only felt their blood pressure rise.

Xue Liangliang smiled apologetically and helped them with their things.

The two elders nagged and blamed all the way until they arrived at the threshing ground and saw Li Sanjiang. They immediately put on a smiling face and enthusiastically greeted and chatted with Li Sanjiang.

Xue Liangliang took the opportunity to tell his parents that he had just taken half a day off today to wait for them and still needed to go back to the project site.

Then, he rode his three-wheeler away again.

Li Zhuoyuan watched Brother Liangliang’s relaxed departure and felt that he was a warrior.

The Xiong Shan couple tidied up the west room and happily moved into Big Beard’s home formally.

Since that evening when their son was called “Xiong Ignorant,” the couple would set up an altar table on the threshing ground of Big Beard’s home every evening and burn some paper.

Most of the day, the child was brought by Xiao Yingying. Except when they went to burn paper, the couple would bring their son over. After burning the paper, they would put their son back into the coffin where Xiao Yingying slept.

However, the couple occasionally whispered, and Li Zhuoyuan overheard.

It probably meant why Lihua’s belly still had no reaction.

Their last attempt to have a child stemmed from an accident where they didn’t take precautions. After all, they weren’t crazy enough to deliberately have a child to bring while **zou jiang**.

So according to reason, Lihua should be relatively easy to get pregnant.

Now that the child had someone to bring, the couple spent their daytime doing farm work and weaving paper figurines. With their physical quality, this bit of labor was just a drizzle, so they had plenty of energy to vigorously toss around in the evening.

Yet no matter how they tossed, there was no movement again.

Li Zhuoyuan looked at the child hugged in Little Yellow Bird’s arms.

One could only say that some children could be only children based on national policy, while some children relied on their own merit.

Even if he was only in swaddling clothes, he could still, from the source, directly cut off the possibility of parental love being divided.

Although this was not the child’s original intention, this was just the person’s own influence on their fate.

The next day, Xiao Yingying also brought the child and moved to Big Beard’s home, because Runsheng and the others were back, and she needed to vacate the coffin bed.

Yin Meng drove the car, bringing the three of them back.

Runsheng could get out of bed and walk freely, but still couldn’t work.

Tan Wenbin could walk without crutches, but he still needed to pay attention to his steps when walking.

Lin Shuyou wore a pair of glasses, still reading glasses.

Li Sanjiang noticed that these three were not right, inquired about the reason, and they explained that they had gone to play the pirate ship at an amusement park, and the pirate ship had derailed, causing the three of them to fall.

Xiao Yuan was good at studying and didn’t follow them to the amusement park.

Li Sanjiang then asked if the amusement park had compensated them. After they answered yes, he was only slightly satisfied.

But ultimately, he still had some regrets. Originally, three very sturdy and durable mules were all sick this New Year. It was simply a mule plague.

Shan great-grandfather also came here to celebrate New Year’s together, holding Runsheng’s hand and sighing with heartache incessantly.

Runsheng took out a share of New Year’s filial money from his pocket and gave it to Shan great-grandfather.

Shan great-grandfather slapped it back and scolded: “You’re like this, how can I take your money, how can I?”

As a result, at noon, Aunt Zhang’s side came to shout if anyone wanted to play **zhajinhua**.

Shan great-grandfather’s face twitched. He ran to Runsheng’s front and turned his hand towards Runsheng’s back.

Runsheng silently took out the money and handed it to Shan great-grandfather again.

Li Sanjiang saw this scene and scolded: “This old animal is really something.”

Shan great-grandfather’s face turned red, and he twisted his neck and said: “I’m saving money for the boy.”

Immediately, Shan great-grandfather started lighting his water pipe. He struck several matches, but none lit. He could only continuously change positions, then move further outside the threshing ground, and finally simply ran barefoot to the gambling den.

Li Sanjiang scolded Runsheng: “You also have water in your brain, still giving him money.”

Runsheng just smiled foolishly.

He had specially given Shan great-grandfather a sum of money so he could happily lose it during New Year’s.

Before the winter vacation, he had calculated accounts and divided the red envelopes, getting a large sum of money.

He kept one-third to buy rice, flour, grains, and oil for his grandfather’s home, as well as for playing cards.

The rest he gave to Yin Meng, telling her to go shopping for clothes.

Anyway, he himself didn’t have the habit of spending money usually, so keeping money on him was useless.

Early the next morning, Liu Yumei’s family returned.

The old lady changed back to the clothes she wore in Jinling and then changed back to the clothes she wore in the countryside.

Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu also returned, with obvious traces of dust and exhaustion on their bodies.

This was after finishing digging up someone’s ancestral grave and rushing back.

There were many people on the threshing ground, and A Li didn’t like it. However, after Li Zhuoyuan stepped forward and held her hand, A Li smiled, her eyes always looking at the young man.

Li Sanjiang smiled and took out the key to unlock the east room.

It had been cleaned very thoroughly inside.

Because Li Sanjiang had secretly unlocked it and cleaned it.

He felt embarrassed to clean it openly, in case the people he cleaned for didn’t come. That would be too embarrassing.

Now he felt quite good, especially when he discovered that when his great-grandson and that girl held hands and went to the second-floor balcony, the old lady wasn’t jealous at all, but rather had a smiling face.

Hey, this worldly old lady unexpectedly changed her nature!

The east room also had one hall and two rooms. Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu lived in the south room together.

Li Sanjiang suggested they go to Big Beard’s home. There were still many empty rooms there, but the old lady refused, saying they could manage.

Mainly, everyone just knew of each other’s existence. There was really no need to specially let A Li and A Ting go to the front of the people. Kings don’t meet kings.

A large family, not sleeping in the same place in the evening, but eating together, so the kitchen was very busy.

Aunt Liu went back to her old profession. She was also used to using the stove in the kitchen.

Lihua helped consciously at the side, even more humble than an apprentice worker.

No matter the time of day, Uncle Qin pushed a cart to deliver goods. During New Year’s, there were many banquets, and he needed to deliver almost every day.

Xiong Shan helped Uncle Qin.

The couple were very fair. When working, they didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.

After the meal, the old lady liked to set up a small table and let Xue dad, Xue mom, and others sit around her to chat and relieve boredom.

The old lady especially loved listening to Xue dad and Xue mom talk about their son, who wasn’t married yet, and didn’t want children yet. They were still waiting to hold their grandson’s generation.

Because the old lady knew about the Bai family, the more she listened, the more interesting it was. There weren’t even enough melon seeds to eat.

Li Zhuoyuan and A Li would walk around the village, occasionally also going to Cui Cui’s home to sit.

On New Year’s Eve morning, Xue Liangliang took his parents to see the Yangtze River and the sea.

In the car, it was a rare moment alone for the family of three.

Xue mom asked very curiously: “That old lady at home, who exactly is she?”

Xue Liangliang was stunned for a moment and asked: “Mom, why?”

Xue dad said: “She should be a big figure.”

“Parents, do you feel pressured sitting with her?”

Xue mom quickly shook her head: “Someone of that caliber being able to sit and chat with us, that’s something we can’t even dream of.”

Xue dad nodded: “Exactly.”

Actually, the old lady had already lowered her stance enough, but some things really couldn’t be let go of just by saying so. When she sat there, everyone naturally faced her.

Whatever she wanted to hear, everyone just needed to say.

Xue dad and Xue mom had a belly full of things they wanted to tell their son, but they had been repeatedly told to the old lady for the past two days, like a sugarcane being repeatedly chewed, making them have no energy to admonish their son now.

Xue Liangliang first took his parents to Langshan to burn incense. Standing on the mountaintop, they appreciated the magnificent sight of the Yangtze River entering the sea.

After coming down the mountain and sitting back in the car, Xue dad and Xue mom said that they had prayed while burning incense for their son to get married and have children early.

Xue Liangliang immediately nodded: “I heard it, this Langshan is very spiritual!”

Subsequently, Xue Liangliang drove to the riverbank where he often went, and brought his parents to walk along it.

The river view was open, making people feel calm. Xue dad and Xue mom held hands and talked about their young days, as well as Xue Liangliang’s childhood.

Xue Liangliang followed behind.

Behind them, on the river surface, a water curtain slowly rose and bowed to the two elders in front.

She was still wearing her bride’s clothes, but with newly applied lipstick and powder, and a full set of jewelry and a phoenix crown.

The two elders were completely unaware.

Xue Liangliang then stopped and looked at her. She also looked at him.

Although they didn’t speak, they seemed to hear each other’s hearts simultaneously:

“委屈你了.” (You’ve been wronged.)

“委屈你了.” (You’ve been wronged.)

After the water curtain went down and the river surface returned to calm.

Xue Liangliang unconsciously straightened his chest, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

Xiao Yuan said that some formal things also have their meaning.

He felt it now.

At this moment, he felt that he had grown up and truly understood what responsibility and **dandang** (taking responsibility) were.

If he previously relied on his unique vision and a surge of enthusiasm in life and work, now he was truly beginning to plan his own life.

This river, this water, this wave… This great rivers and mountains.

Starting next year,

He wanted to tame them, transform them, and construct them.

Bringing his junior brother Xiao Yuan… Together!

…

Zhou Yunyun came. She lived in Shigang, which was very close.

Moreover, Tan Wenbin had already gone to the door. Although the two were not formally engaged and didn’t hold a banquet, both families had actually tacitly agreed.

As for age, in the countryside, it was not uncommon for children of their age to already have children making soy sauce.

Li Sanjiang brought them together to pay their respects to those two.

The two graves were built like a courtyard, albeit mini, but still with several entrances and exits.

One large, one small, placed in the local cemetery, they were considered first-tier luxury **yin house**.

When building these graves, some issues arose. Some villagers reported it. Not only did the village cadres come, but the town also sent people down.

After all, at present, making a small one is fine, but making it so extravagant is a bit much. How many eyes are watching?

If everyone sees that everyone’s life is getting better and better and later build graves according to this standard, won’t that cause trouble?

In the end, Li Sanjiang had no choice but to change the story about the money for repairing the road.

Saying the money was given by that overseas Chinese was not wrong, but that overseas Chinese was just a middleman. The true givers of the money were these two people who wanted their souls to return to their hometown.

Anyway, since Ding Dalin gave him the money to plant peach trees, there had been no news of him, so he could be arranged casually.

With this, the town cadres had nothing much to say. This year, in order to attract foreign investment, local governments had given countless preferential conditions.

People voluntarily donated money to repair roads and bridges, supported orphans, and subsidized children’s schooling. Giving such a large sum of money just for two graves was not excessive, right?

Just like that, in this way, the two fathers-in-law “settled down” in Siyuan Village.

When Li Sanjiang brought everyone, he discovered that there were traces of candles burning and paper offerings on the two graves, and the weeds nearby had also been removed.

Many villagers must have specially come here to offer sacrifices to them when visiting graves during New Year’s.

Many contemporary writers like to deliberately amplify and describe the evil shown in the countryside due to resource shortages.

From ancient times to the present, most temples were built in the countryside. How many could enter the city?

People’s hearts are made of flesh. They know who is good to them and are grateful.

Li Sanjiang set up the altar table. Tan Wenbin brought Zhou Yunyun to kowtow.

This was what he had promised his “dry dad” before.

Li Sanjiang saw Li Zhuoyuan standing there motionless and hurriedly waved his hand, indicating: “Xiao Yuan Hou, you also kowtow, **zhanzhan fuqi** (get some good fortune), these two are not bad, they can bless you.”

Li Zhuoyuan looked troubled.

Tan Wenbin quickly smoothed things over and said: “Great-uncle Li, one thing is one thing. This is my lifesaver. It’s enough for me to come and kowtow.”

Li Sanjiang: “What kind of talk is that.”

Saying that, Li Sanjiang faced the two graves and held burning incense:

“The two of you did good deeds by repairing roads and bridges for our village. I, Li Sanjiang, am grateful for your kindness. This big New Year, I’ll kowtow to you.”

Li Sanjiang knelt down, then turned his head and waved at Li Zhuoyuan again.

His great-grandfather had already knelt. It was indeed inappropriate for him to still be standing.

Li Zhuoyuan could only start to bend his knees, but before his knees even touched the ground, he heard a sound:

“Crackle!”

The main roofs of the two exquisite graves, one large and one small, cracked simultaneously!

“Oh no!”

Li Sanjiang didn’t have time to kowtow either. He quickly went up to check, then instructed Tan Wenbin to call the village mason over. He needed to fix it before night.

When Li Zhuoyuan returned home, he found that Liu Jinxia had come, and Aunt Xiang Hou was helping in the kitchen.

The hot-tempered Liu Jinxia of her whole life spoke with a soft voice in front of Liu Yumei. She had heard more trivial and dirty matters in her life, and her own home was even more like a book.

Hearing this, Liu Yumei listened with relish.

Cui Cui and A Li were playing Five-in-a-row on the second-floor balcony.

“Far Hou brother, hee hee, look, this is the bracelet A Li sister gave me. Does it look good?”

Cui Cui showed Li Zhuoyuan the wooden bracelet on her left wrist.

The color of that bracelet… was very similar to the “face color” of the ancestors of the Qin and Liu families.

After looking at it, Li Zhuoyuan looked at A Li again.

Being able to shift her attention outwards from a single person was itself a sign of improving condition.

Li Zhuoyuan once thought of finding a hard gold item to suppress Cui Cui’s fate, this wooden bracelet, although not a long-term solution, could at least be used for some years.

“Cui Cui, you just wear this bracelet every day from now on, don’t take it off.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t be willing to take it off anyway.”

Before New Year’s Eve dinner, Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou wanted to go home to make New Year’s calls. Xue Liangliang also pulled Li Zhuoyuan to call Master Luo.

Tan Wenbin first called his dad, then Lin Shuyou called home.

The other end of the phone was very lively, with gongs and drums beating. During New Year’s, there were many activities in the temple, and even a medium in the temple had become possessed and was giving blessings to “patients” to ward off bad luck.

The one who answered the phone was Lin Shuyou’s grandfather, who was earnestly teaching Lin Shuyou.

As soon as one ceremony ended, the people on that side started thanking the medium, saying he was working hard.

Next to them, Li Zhuoyuan was chatting with Xue Liangliang about his itinerary for the day. Knowing that Xue Liangliang had specially taken his parents to the riverbank and let her see them bowing, Li Zhuoyuan said:

“You’ve also worked hard.”

From the other end of Lin Shuyou’s phone, an exclamation immediately came.

“Not good, the medium fell, fell!”

Lin Shuyou’s grandfather could only quickly say: “Something happened in the temple. You have a peaceful New Year in Nantong. Home is safe, don’t worry.”

After saying that, he immediately hung up to handle it.

Lin Shuyou blinked and hung up the phone.

Next, Xue Liangliang called Master Luo and celebrated New Year with Master Luo together with Li Zhuoyuan.

An ordinary teacher-student relationship doesn’t need to be to this extent, but they were special. A master only worries about the future of their child when they treat them as their father.

Xue Liangliang bought many fireworks in advance, all of them box-sized ones.

After finishing the New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone started setting off fireworks.

This year, except for kids playing with small firecrackers, fireworks were still considered a luxury. Only families with good living conditions in the countryside would buy some fireworks to set off, and they didn’t last long either.

Li Sanjiang’s threshing ground tonight became the most eye-catching place in the whole village. Many villagers specially came out of their homes and gathered nearby to appreciate the fireworks.

After one batch was set off, another batch was moved out from the house. Everyone took turns to experience the thrill, and could even choose the style of fireworks.

Even Tan Wenbin couldn’t help but curiously ask Xue Liangliang: “Brother Liang, how many fireworks did you actually buy?”

Xue Liangliang shrugged: “Enough.”

Tan Wenbin gave a thumbs up: “Brother Liang is generous.”

Immediately, Tan Wenbin leaned over and softly asked: “Did this cost a lot of money?”

Everyone knew Xue Liangliang had money, but Xue Liangliang didn’t like to do business, so he shouldn’t be burning money like this.

Xue Liangliang: “According to the law of Western economic development, I feel that the domestic stock market will definitely be established and developed, so last year I entrusted friends to help me collect quite a few stock subscription certificates.”

Tan Wenbin: “Is this thing valuable now?”

Xue Liangliang: “It’s okay.”

Under the sky full of fireworks, Li Zhuoyuan and A Li stood hand in hand on the second-floor balcony.

Li Zhuoyuan looked at the brilliant sky for a while, and then at the girl’s gorgeous eyes.

“Next year, I will be very busy and will often go outside.”

The girl wouldn’t speak, just gently squeezed the young man’s hand in response.

“But every time I finish being busy, I will still come back.”

The girl turned around and faced the young man.

“Look at Brother Liangliang. When he was busy before, it didn’t delay him from coming back to Nantong. Following him, my frequency of coming back won’t be low.”

The girl lowered her head, and the young man also lowered his head. Their foreheads lightly touched.

“Are they still noisy?”

The girl closed her eyes.

The young man also closed his eyes.

The next moment, Li Zhuoyuan appeared in A Li’s dream.

Outside, the thick fog had already retreated to an extremely far distance. At first glance, one would still think it was clouds hanging in the sky.

Li Zhuoyuan held A Li’s hand and stepped over the threshold.

The young man took out the white lantern inserted in the wall seam and led the girl forward.

This was a wilderness, this was a stream. The scenery here should have been very beautiful, just like the girl if she could grow up healthy.

As Li Zhuoyuan continuously moved forward, the distant thick fog continuously rolled, seemingly retreating en masse. Not only did no one dare to approach, but no one dared to stand in the front row.

Afraid that if they weren’t careful, they would be fished out by the young man’s lantern again.

Not many people cared about the process. Most people only looked at the result, and they were just one of the “results.”

Although Li Zhuoyuan’s reputation in the Jianghu was not yet prominent, in the undercurrents of this river water, this group of “snakes, insects, rats, and ants” had already started to fear him.

Just like in reality, Liu Yumei’s relaxation and happiness.

Because the Dragon King families of the Qin and Liu families were slowly being re-established.

Not long,

The entire Jianghu would re-remember the terror of the Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu standing there that year.

Li Zhuoyuan ignited the karma fire in the center of his palm, burning the white lantern.

The young man threw it forward. The lantern cracked, turning into a mass of gorgeous colorful clouds, stirring up the surrounding clouds.

The fireworks in this dream were truly not inferior to those in reality.

Li Zhuoyuan clapped his hands, raised his head, and looked at the colorful clouds reflected by the fireworks.

He said:

“Hide well. From today on, I will actively look for you.”

—

This volume ends.