Li Zhuiyuan was not a vengeful person.

However, some grudges truly couldn’t be repaid with his current strength or the prevailing circumstances.

Most other people with strong resolve might choose to bow their heads, endure, and wait for the right moment.

The young man disliked that.

He was accustomed to taking as much flesh from his enemies as his appetite allowed.

From another perspective, the young man actually viewed his enemies as a resource.

This was true for the Xie Sui, for those who had conspired against Uncle Qin in the past, and for the top Jianghu forces who had once tried to pressure and usurp the Qin and Liu families.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up again, at the dense, shimmering light and shadows folding in the sky.

This was just the beginning.

Don’t think that just because you’ve fled and are no longer here, you can escape accountability for what you did to Ah Li back then.

I have so much gongde that it’s practically inexhaustible.

I still have more “waves” to ride, and after each wave is completed, the gongde that I cannot actively use will accumulate significantly.

Just wait.

Between the waves, I will come for you.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the purple-gold Luopan, enveloped by the spirit of the Jiaolong, in front of him.

First, I’ll clear from near to far. Once the areas near Nantong are cleared, I’ll select another specific region for targeted cleanup.

One by one, they’ll be called out; place by place, they’ll be dealt with.

The unfinished business of the Qin and Liu ancestors was, in fact, another gift to himself.

Like a treasure map, the young man only needed to follow it step by step to reap rewards.

These weren’t Xie Sui at all; they were treasures like ginseng, waiting to be unearthed.

Li Zhuiyuan’s gaze meticulously scanned the three Xie Sui before him.

His first attempt at creating a small wave was successful in both theory and initial practice, but the subsequent detailed progression still needed to be sorted out.

He didn’t know whether he would need to use the Luopan to calculate their positions himself, or if there would be small streams, like the river water, that would deliver information about them to him.

The answer should be revealed soon, within these next few days.

After all, the “fine” had been paid, and the “goods” that Tiandao had deducted from him should surely be delivered.

This was the reputation of an intermediary.

If gongde, or “money,” is in your hands, first, you don’t know where to buy; this transaction is illegal and irregular, and there are no legitimate channels for such a store, so you can’t even spend it if you wanted to.

Second, even if you find a black market, you still have to worry about unprotected transactions, constantly risking being ripped off or having your efforts amount to nothing.

Now, he had already paid the fine. What was Tiandao going to do? According to procedural justice, it had to solidify his “crime.”

A smile appeared on Li Zhuiyuan’s lips.

The young man knew that Tiandao had always targeted him, that Tiandao feared his martial arts training, that Tiandao would not allow him to grow up, and he had always endured the terrifying pressure from the heavens above.

Now, he could finally retaliate, even if just a little.

Although he was still an ant, a thousand-mile dike could be destroyed by an ant’s nest.

Even when facing Tiandao, his “enemy” who bullied him, the young man would embark on phased revenge as soon as conditions allowed.

Li Zhuiyuan turned and walked back to the simple house.

Ah Li, standing just inside the doorway, leaned slightly, carefully examining the appearance of the three Xie Sui behind the young man.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Ah Li, I’ll draw.”

Ah Li shook her head, her lips lightly pursed.

“Alright, alright, you draw, you draw. Who says our Ah Li isn’t my drawing teacher?”

The girl’s face showed two dimples.

The young man was afraid she would get tired, because after this wave, Ah Li’s work was clearly several times more than usual, but the girl enjoyed the feeling of being able to help the boy.

They would sit on the balcony playing chess, only remembering that fleeting starry sky, but the things she helped the young man create and process would continue to be effective the next time he went out.

Both closed their eyes simultaneously, then reopened them, returning to reality.

Li Zhuiyuan first put away the purple-gold Luopan, then looked down at the jade flute in his hand.

This was truly a treasure.

It was a pity that the Chen family of Qiongya had such an upright family tradition, and Chen Xiyuan’s character was overly kind and simple.

He really couldn’t turn her into an enemy resource.

This jade flute also couldn’t become “stolen goods” that flowed out from him.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the painting to fulfill his vow.

Before the Bodhisattva statue, three more sticks of incense were to be lit, not to thank the one struggling in purgatory, but to thank Sun Baishen.

Sun Baishen hated Bodhisattva to the extreme, and because of his relationship with Wei Zhengdao, he trusted Li Zhuiyuan implicitly, which made him spare no effort in helping Li Zhuiyuan undermine Bodhisattva.

Next, the young man also lit three sticks of incense before the painting of Fengdu Dadi, silently murmuring:

“Shifu, you’ve worked hard.”

Calling him “Dadi” was a formal title; calling him “Shifu” had a touch of playful teasing.

The young man knew that each “Shifu” he uttered would remind his venerable master of that night when the broken lock on their door prevented it from closing.

Time passed unheeded in the Daochang. When Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li emerged, they found it was already one in the afternoon.

Grandfather and the others were all out for the day, not at home. Aunt Liu naturally knew where he and Ah Li had gone and didn’t rush to call them for lunch.

Just as the young man and the girl came out, Aunt Liu’s familiar voice drifted from the embankment ahead:

“Lunchtime!”

On one hand, Aunt Liu had sensed the return of the young man and Ah Li; on the other, Tan Wenbin had just picked up Grandma Yao from the train station.

Grandma Yao, watching the car delve deeper into the countryside, felt a pang of concern and tenderness. But the moment she stepped out and saw the eldest young lady playing cards with a group of old sisters on the embankment, tears of joy welled up in her eyes.

After leaving the Liu family, she had long lived an ordinary life, knowing the happiness such a life brought. Now, she saw that same happiness in the eldest young lady.

“Shan’er, come over, let me introduce you.”

Liu Yumei waved to Yao Shan.

Grandma Yao walked onto the embankment, and the closer she got, the weaker her legs felt. She genuinely wanted to perform the old ritual and bow to the eldest young lady, but her heart was as delicate as her needlework. From the three elderly women her age at the same table, she sensed their “ordinariness.”

Therefore, Yao Shan forced herself to stand tall. When she reached the eldest young lady, she almost lost her balance, thankfully caught by Liu Yumei’s timely outstretched hand.

Liu Yumei introduced her, and Liu Jinxia and the other two also showed great enthusiasm for Yao Shan.

Aunt Liu brought out the dishes.

Usually, when playing cards, Liu Jinxia and the other two didn’t eat here; they’d go back to their own homes for meals. Granny Hua, living alone, often went to Liu Jinxia’s for a bite, and every month she’d buy some expensive snacks and nice stationery for Cui Cui.

Today, Liu Yumei had spoken, and no one would refuse her, so they stayed to eat together.

The round table, usually reserved for Liu Yumei, was now surrounded by five people.

Eating at the same table as the eldest young lady made Yao Shan somewhat uncomfortable. Several times she tried to take the dishes and the wine pot from Aunt Liu, but Aunt Liu gently pressed her hand down, signaling her to just keep the old lady company.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious.

The only slight hiccup was that for Grandma Yao to understand, Liu Jinxia and the other two couldn’t speak Nantonghua and had to speak Putonghua.

But even so, communication remained quite difficult, because in the old ladies’ understanding, Putonghua simply meant speaking Nantonghua slowly, word by word.

Liu Yumei instructed Liu Jinxia and the other two to bring back any clothes from home that needed mending, saying that Shan’er was skilled with her hands and they would get to see for themselves.

Grandma Yao quickly nodded, then said she had brought a lot of good fabric this time.

Liu Yumei casually waved her hand: “Perfect, make each of them an outfit.”

After the meal, Liu Jinxia and the other two each went back, bringing only one item of clothing that needed mending.

While they played cards, Grandma Yao sat next to Liu Yumei, watching the eldest young lady play cards while she mended.

In a game of long cards, one person would sit out each round. Whenever it was someone’s turn to sit out, Yao Shan would take their measurements.

Although, with her skill, she could tell at a glance, she still took out a measuring tape to meticulously measure.

Liu Jinxia, who was first, felt embarrassed and tried to decline, but Liu Yumei simply tapped her fingertips on the table, and Liu Jinxia smiled and cooperated willingly.

The card game broke up at dusk. Before leaving, Liu Jinxia said she would come later to pick up Sister Liu and take her to her house, reiterating that she shouldn’t bring anything, as everything was arranged there.

Finally finding herself alone, Yao Shan followed Liu Yumei into the east room. She first knelt and kowtowed before the offering table, then knelt and shuffled forward to offer tea to the eldest young lady.

This scene had played out in her mind for a long time. To her, the eldest young lady not only had the kindness of sheltering her in the Liu family back then but also the virtue of changing her son’s fate in the mundane world.

Liu Yumei sat in a chair, her hand resting on the armrest, saying, “I’ve been playing cards all day, I’m tired. You’re offering it so far away, I can’t reach.”

Yao Shan was stunned for a moment, then had no choice but to stand up and deliver the tea to Liu Yumei’s hand.

Liu Yumei took the teacup, took a sip, and motioned for her to sit beside her, chatting with Yao Shan about trivial matters.

She asked about her family, her son and daughter-in-law, and her two grandchildren.

Yao Shan answered each question.

Once she had finished being questioned, she immediately took over the conversation from the eldest young lady, first inquiring about Miss Ah Li’s recent situation, then praising the young master, whom she had already seen in Luoyang.

Liu Yumei smiled and said, “I truly didn’t understand before. It’s only when I got old that I realized what it means to live for your children and grandchildren, hehe.”

Yao Shan: “Eldest Young Lady, you are not old. In my eyes, you are still the same as you were back then.”

Liu Yumei: “You and I are both grandmothers now. To say such things would make people laugh.”

The entire Liu Jinxia family was out, with Xiang Hou and Cui Cui also coming to pick them up.

Ah Li did not resist going to Cui Cui’s house, because the young man told her he would wait at Cui Cui’s doorstep to pick her up the next morning.

Before leaving, Liu Yumei took Ah Li to bathe and change clothes, and also packed two sets of pajamas, clothes for the next day, and toiletries.

Liu Jinxia originally wanted to say that her family had all these things and there was no need to bring them. But seeing Aunt Liu putting box after box of Sister Liu’s belongings into Xiang Hou’s tricycle, Liu Jinxia swallowed her words. Instead, she instructed her daughter not to ride it but to push it, so as not to damage the items.

Before going down the embankment, Liu Yumei glanced at Aunt Liu.

Aunt Liu understood and locked the door to the east room.

Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu were staying here tonight, so no outsiders could break in. This was to prevent internal personnel from entering without permission.

Upon arriving at Liu Jinxia’s house, rooms were assigned.

Liu Jinxia wanted Ah Li to sleep in Cui Cui’s room. Liu Yumei was about to refuse, based on considerations for Cui Cui’s personal safety.

Then, she saw her granddaughter walk into Cui Cui’s room.

This made Cui Cui overjoyed.

That night, she kept asking Sister Ah Li if she wanted to watch TV, drink milk or soda, eat snacks, or look at her picture books and stickers. Ah Li didn’t respond, just quietly lay on the inner side of the bed, resting her head on the pillow, hands folded over her abdomen, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.

Cui Cui lay on her side, propped on her hand, as moonlight streamed through the window, allowing her to see Sister Ah Li’s sleeping face.

“Sister Ah Li, she’s so beautiful.”

Back then, when Brother Yuan Hou first visited her house, he also took a nap on her bed, and that time, she also watched him the whole time.

The young girl didn’t know the specifics of marriage or family, but she understood playing house.

At this moment, Cui Cui couldn’t help but sigh with anticipation in her heart:

“Brother Yuan Hou is so handsome, and Sister Ah Li is also so beautiful. Just how beautiful will their children be?”

In another room.

Liu Yumei had Yao Shan share her bed, but this time Yao Shan absolutely refused, saying that it wasn’t about status or hierarchy, but that she would be so excited and nervous that she wouldn’t be able to sleep all night.

Fortunately, the bed arrangement here included a long wooden platform beneath the wooden bed. In summer, many families preferred to sleep on it rather than the bed for coolness.

Liu Yumei slept on the outer side of the bed, and Yao Shan slept on the long platform below. It was still early, and the two continued talking.

As they talked, Liu Yumei smiled.

Someone was standing outside the door, and had been for a long time—it was Liu Jinxia.

Seeing her hesitate outside, Liu Yumei asked, “Who is it?”

Liu Jinxia pushed open the door and entered, holding a straw mat, quilt, and pillow.

Just like that, Liu Jinxia also made a makeshift bed on the floor in that room, and the three old ladies chatted late into the night.

In the early morning, Ah Li opened her eyes precisely on time.

She sat up, carefully avoiding the still-sleeping Cui Cui, and got out of bed.

Liu Yumei was also up. Yao Shan, taking her cue, opened her eyes, which were slightly red.

Even though the eldest young lady’s movements were completely silent, Yao Shan still sensed her, because even without sharing a bed, she had still been too excited to sleep all night.

Liu Yumei helplessly extended a finger and poked Yao Shan’s forehead. Yao Shan smiled somewhat self-consciously.

In the morning, it was Yao Shan who helped Ah Li with her hair and makeup.

Xiang Hou had set an alarm last night and woken up very early. By the time they came downstairs, Xiang Hou had almost finished making breakfast.

Thinking that the guests were all up, but her mother and daughter were still sound asleep, Xiang Hou found it amusing.

While doing her hair, Yao Shan noticed that Miss Ah Li suddenly smiled.

She looked up and, sure enough, the young master had arrived.

Li Zhuiyuan had breakfast at Aunt Xiang Hou’s place, then held Ah Li’s hand and, bathed in the morning glow, led the girl home.

Yao Shan, who hadn’t slept all night, wasn’t tired at all. She took out her measuring tape and helped Xiang Hou take some body measurements, also saying she wanted to make an outfit for Cui Cui.

Xiang Hou wanted to politely decline, but Grandma Yao blocked her with a single sentence: “Your mother agreed last night.”

Xiang Hou tried to take out money for custom-made clothes. Yao Shan also pretended to feel in her pocket, asking Xiang Hou if she should also pay for accommodation.

Not to mention that Yao Shan didn’t care for such a small amount of money; if it came to money, many of the clothes made by tailors of her skill and status throughout history are now displayed in museums.

Days continued to pass like this for two more days. Every morning, Li Zhuiyuan would pick Ah Li up from Cui Cui’s house, and at night, he would take her back.

The rest of the time, the two were either in the small workshop behind the house or in the upstairs room. There was too much work, and they had only just begun preparing the necessary tools.

To avoid trouble, they ate all three meals a day at Liu Jinxia’s house, and played cards there too. But every evening, Liu Yumei would return to her east room to bathe with Ah Li.

Some habits couldn’t be changed. You couldn’t bring your own bathtub and other toiletries when staying as a guest at someone else’s house; that would not only be ostentatious but also hurt their feelings.

Today, after Liu Yumei finished bathing, Ah Li went into the room to wash.

Aunt Liu was busy in the kitchen; the dishes for dinner tonight were somewhat special.

Li Sanjiang, as usual, inspected the kitchen. Seeing today’s ingredients, he couldn’t help but nod and say:

“Yes, it’s time to change the flavor, change the fodder.”

The mules’ appetite still hadn’t recovered, and Li Sanjiang had been watching with concern.

But soon, Li Sanjiang saw Aunt Liu holding a chicken’s head in one hand and using a spoon to pour boiling water over the whole chicken in the other. After a while, she simply extinguished the fire in the stove and left the chicken to steam in the pot.

Li Sanjiang wondered, “What kind of cooking method is this?”

When Aunt Liu took the chicken out and began to chop it, seeing a little blood still clinging to the bones, Li Sanjiang blinked hard:

“Ting Hou, it doesn’t seem cooked yet.”

Aunt Liu: “It’s cooked. This way the skin is crispy and the meat is tender; it’s about eating the original flavor. Just make a dipping sauce.”

Li Sanjiang scratched his head.

Just then, Aunt Zhang shouted from across the field for him to answer the phone, so Li Sanjiang went out.

In the upstairs room, Li Zhuiyuan hung three paintings, personally drawn by Ah Li, on the wall.

The painting on the left depicted a figure wearing a black mask, with scales covering its body, resembling both human and beast.

The middle painting showed a charming woman with a mole at the corner of her mouth, her lower body composed of gnarled tree roots.

The painting on the right depicted a figure in red, with hands but no feet, like a ghost, with a single eye on its forehead.

The self-made “wave” hadn’t arrived yet, but Li Zhuiyuan had a premonition that it would be in the next day or two.

Originally, Li Zhuiyuan had thought of bringing people to solve each problem location by location. Now, the young man felt there was no need for that.

Zhao Yi had already sent word that he and his people would arrive tomorrow.

According to the young man’s estimation, Chen Xiyuan should wake up from her drunkenness tonight.

Dealing with Xie Sui of such a lingering existence would be like using a cannon to kill a chicken for these two groups of people.

But aren’t temporary staff meant for doing odd jobs?

Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the room with a book in hand and headed to the balcony. Just as he was about to sit in the rattan chair, he saw Liu Yumei standing on the embankment, looking up at him.

The young man had merely come out to read for a bit before it got completely dark. The book he held was The Righteous Demon-Slaying Record, and he was already picking out the next phase of evil arts.

However, sometimes being too clever wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Li Zhuiyuan could discern the profound meaning in Grandma Liu’s gaze: “What, knowing someone’s about to wake up, you came out early to stake your claim?”

The young man felt that Grandma Liu didn’t need to think that way, but he also understood the sense of crisis in Grandma Liu’s heart.

Continuing to sit would seem inappropriate, but getting up and going back would make him appear guilty.

Li Zhuiyuan could only say, “Grandma, I have something I’d like to ask you about.”

The young man went downstairs and sat beside Liu Yumei, specifically asking the old lady about the past and present of the Ming family.

Having finished dinner early, Aunt Liu leaned against the kitchen door, ready to crack melon seeds, and gave Uncle Qin, who had just returned with a hoe, a kick, gesturing with her chin towards the young man and the old lady:

“Learn more from them.”

When smart people flatter, it’s like a gentle rain that moistens silently. Aunt Liu had seen the old lady’s earlier glance at the young man, but now the young man was actively asking about Longwang Ming’s affairs, which undoubtedly struck the deepest chord of joy in the old lady’s heart.

Nothing else, the Longwang Ming family had not only lost a contemporary Jiangzhe, severing their generation’s possibility of competing for the Longwang title, but now the entire family’s life was also very difficult.

Just as they were chatting spiritedly, inside the east room, Ah Li, immersed in the bathtub, turned her head to look at her empty right side.

A surprised voice came:

“Oh? How strong is your perception? You actually noticed me?”

The domain was retracted, and Chen Xiyuan’s figure appeared.

Her alcohol, finally, wore off.

Upon waking, she noticed someone bathing in the room.

When she got closer, she saw a young girl in the bathtub.

But this little girl was incredibly beautiful, almost impossibly so. Every part of her seemed to be a masterful design, and this was when she was still young. When she grew up, to sixteen or seventeen, her graceful and enchanting figure would likely leave even the most skilled painters in the world at a loss for how to begin.

Chen Xiyuan remembered that she had played the qin and flute with the old madam of the Liu family, drinking until she was drunk. So, this should be the old madam’s residence. The little girl who could bathe here…

“You’re the Qin family’s little sister, right?”

Ah Li merely looked at her, offering no response.

“Your name is Qin Li, isn’t it?”

Ah Li still just looked at her.

“You’re the little brother’s unbetrothed, no, the little brother is your unbetrothed, live-in son-in-law, haha!”

Ah Li’s gaze slightly narrowed.

In the center of the bathtub, droplets of water floated up. The petals that had been drifting on the surface sank to the bottom, gathering and forming shapes underwater. The temperature in the entire room also rapidly dropped at this moment.

Chen Xiyuan only thought she had mistaken her identity and asked again, “Uh? You’re not Qin Li? Not the little brother’s little sister?”

The color in Ah Li’s eyes instantly dulled, and all the spirit tablets on the offering table began to shake collectively.

Clearly, the girl was on the verge of losing control.

Chen Xiyuan retreated a few steps, like an older sister who had done something wrong, continuously shaking her head and waving her hands: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry…”

A python, formed by coalesced petals, emerged from beneath the water’s surface, flicking its tongue towards Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan: “Liu’s Wangqi Jue…”

This seemingly ordinary technique actually contained profound and intricate principles.

And as this petal python further launched itself from the bathtub, tiny streams of water converged around its body, eventually forming a crystal-like horn on its head.

Chen Xiyuan: “You are the little sister! The little brother is your live-in…”

Li Zhuiyuan could master the inheritances of both the Qin and Liu families because the young man was intelligent enough; he learned everything quickly. But in terms of true adaptation to the core techniques of the Qin and Liu families, Ah Li, as the only one in the current generation with the bloodlines of both families, was the most uniquely gifted.

“Buzz.”

The petals, transformed from python to Jiao, rushed towards Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan raised the flute in her hand, intending to block.

But she quickly realized that it wasn’t enough; she genuinely might be harmed by this technique, so she had no choice but to open her domain.

“Boom!”

The entire east room shook, but with the sword on the bed standing upright, the spreading force immediately dissipated into nothing.

Liu Yumei’s voice rang from outside: “Ah Li.”

Ah Li stood up from the bathtub. Her grandmother’s voice did not ripple her icy eyes. Beneath the girl, more pythons emerged, all extending their heads.

“Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!”

Each python, as it flew out, grew Jiao horns along the way, instantly doubling its power.

“Ah Li.”

Li Zhuiyuan’s voice came from outside.

This time, Ah Li’s previously indifferent eyes flickered.

The girl closed her eyes.

“Crack!”

All the water Jiaolong shattered before reaching Chen Xiyuan, drenching the entire hall.

The girl sat back down in the bathtub.

The door opened, and Liu Yumei entered.

The old lady first waved her hand, sweeping all the remaining water out of the bathtub. With a flick of another finger, a set of clothes landed on Ah Li.

From beginning to end, the girl kept her eyes closed, making no other movements.

Chen Xiyuan, raising both hands, looked at Liu Yumei and said with immense guilt:

“Old madam, I was wrong.”

Liu Yumei sighed, shook her head, and smiled; “It’s normal for you peers to have a little squabble.”

In fact, even Liu Yumei herself didn’t know why Ah Li suddenly became so angry.

Before meeting Xiao Yuan, when strangers approached, Ah Li wasn’t without situations where she couldn’t control herself and would lose it, but she would only injure people, not take their lives.

Since Xiao Yuan came here, her granddaughter rarely even showed such states of losing control.

But looking at the water marks in the room and the lingering气息 of the python and Jiao, her granddaughter truly did strike hard just now.

Of course, such a heavy strike would certainly not pose a life-threatening danger to Chen Xiyuan, but if the Chen family girl hadn’t opened her domain in time, she might have been injured as a result.

Liu Yumei subconsciously glanced again at Chen Xiyuan standing there,

thinking:

“Did this girl just directly tell my granddaughter that she wanted to steal her Xiao Yuan?”

Li Zhuiyuan waited outside. After a while, Liu Yumei walked out, holding Ah Li’s hand.

Ah Li’s gaze was indifferent, which worried Liu Yumei greatly.

Fortunately, when Xiao Yuan extended his hand to his granddaughter, she willingly gave her hand to the young man.

Li Zhuiyuan noticed that Ah Li’s hand was very cold.

Disregarding dinner, Li Zhuiyuan led the girl upstairs and sat in the rattan chairs on the balcony.

The girl sat with a straight back, her hands held by the young man.

In her eyes, Li Zhuiyuan saw ice that hadn’t completely melted.

Chen Xiyuan kept apologizing to Liu Yumei on the embankment, and she told Liu Yumei everything that had happened inside and what she had said earlier.

Chen Xiyuan was truly anxious and genuinely remorseful, tears welling in her eyes, her voice tinged with a sob.

She had just arrived at their house, only to get drunk for several days, which was already a great breach of etiquette. Then, as soon as she sobered up, she made the little brother’s girlfriend and the old madam’s direct granddaughter seem as if they were sick. Even if she had two more mouths, it would be hard to explain whether she had come to visit or to deliberately seek revenge.

Liu Yumei looked at the Chen family girl, who was on the verge of crying, and felt a little amused and helpless.

Everyone had to reveal their true nature in front of her. She could tell that this was truly a big silly girl.

Liu Yumei: “Who told you that Xiao Yuan is our family’s live-in son-in-law?”

Chen Xiyuan was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looking up at the young man on the balcony. She wanted to say that the little brother told her, but on careful recollection, it seemed that although the little brother had never denied his relationship with the Qin and Liu families, he had never admitted to being a live-in son-in-law.

It seemed that she had always been the one bringing up the live-in son-in-law?

Liu Yumei: “I have never thought of making Xiao Yuan our live-in son-in-law.”

Although behind the scenes, Liu Yumei had already secretly come up with several basketfuls of names for future great-grandchildren, one of those baskets contained only surnames of Li.

Having lived a lifetime in Jianghu, she understood human relationships and worldly affairs thoroughly. Years ago, she had told Aunt Liu that if they were to recruit a live-in son-in-law, they should find someone ordinary and content, so that life could remain stable. The most fearful thing was wanting both: recruiting an ambitious and capable “river dragon.” Even if circumstances were not ideal for a time and he chose to bide his time with you, once he rose to power, it was uncertain whether resentment would accumulate in his heart, essentially inviting an enemy for yourself.

Xiao Yuan, in a legal sense, inherited the Dragon King family’s legacy from both families; he wasn’t related by marriage. Even if Xiao Yuan himself didn’t care about it, Liu Yumei would have to be out of her mind to discuss “marrying into the family” with this child.

Given Xiao Yuan’s feelings for the Qin and Liu families, he would likely agree to continue the family lines for both, but not as a result of her command. She would have to humbly ask him.

Liu Yumei: “You shouldn’t insult Xiao Yuan in front of Ah Li.”

Her granddaughter’s action against the Chen family girl this time wasn’t because the Chen family girl got close, but because she was protecting Xiao Yuan.

Alright, even though she wouldn’t have done it herself, the one most against Xiao Yuan marrying into the family turned out to be her own granddaughter.

Chen Xiyuan’s eyes widened, confused. “Insult? What insult? Is being a live-in son-in-law an insult?”

Liu Yumei: “Didn’t your grandparents tell you?”

Chen Xiyuan’s mouth opened, her face showing understanding. Then she clenched her fists, took a deep breath:

“Grandpa and Grandma lied to me!”

Liu Yumei didn’t know how to comment. It must be that those two loved their precious granddaughter too much and certainly couldn’t bear for her to marry out. So they had redefined the concept of “live-in son-in-law” early on, fearing that their granddaughter might be lured away by some man outside.

This silly girl was still on her Jiangzhe journey, and had been for so long. How on earth had she survived?

In terms of worldly wisdom, she was actually worse than her own Ah Li, who rarely went out?

How strong must this girl’s talent be?

Aunt Liu walked over and asked, “Shall we have dinner? I specially prepared Qiong cuisine for you.”

Chen Xiyuan shook her head: “I want to go up and apologize first.”

Liu Yumei: “No need, you eat yours.”

Chen Xiyuan: “No, I can’t eat.”

“Grumble… grumble…”

No sooner had she spoken than Chen Xiyuan’s stomach made noises.

The joyful collaboration and carefree spirit under the peach blossoms had long exhausted her energy, and she had slept for three consecutive days. Even with suppressed metabolism, her empty stomach couldn’t be quieted.

Liu Yumei reached out and patted Chen Xiyuan’s head: “It’s okay, Ah Li is fine, you don’t need to worry about it.”

Chen Xiyuan seemed to suddenly remember something, retreating a few steps, wanting to formally greet the old madam.

“No need for now, no need. I still have to go to the neighbor’s house for dinner, so I won’t accompany you. You probably haven’t settled down yet. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to you properly and ask about your grandparents’ recent situation.”

After speaking, Liu Yumei walked down the embankment. This time, she didn’t take Ah Li with her.

Tan Wenbin returned with Lin Shuyou: “Oh, Outer Team, you’re finally awake.”

Zhou Yunyun had already returned to school. Today, he had brought Lin Shuyou to visit his prospective in-laws, and also to help with some farm work, just for show.

He was responsible for making an impression on his in-laws, and A You was responsible for making an impression with the farm work.

Tan Wenbin: “Hungry, hungry, let’s eat, let’s eat!”

Lin Shuyou whispered, “Brother Bin, the atmosphere right now doesn’t seem suitable for eating.”

Tan Wenbin: “You eat yours. Do you want to morally blackmail Brother Xiao Yuan and Ah Li into coming down to eat?”

Lin Shuyou sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and also lit a thick incense stick for Run Sheng, handing it to him.

Chen Xiyuan was very hungry, but she had no appetite. Aunt Liu and Uncle Qin sat at a table and started eating first.

Uncle Qin: “Where’s Uncle Li?”

Aunt Liu: “He sent word through Aunt Zhang that the old carpenter from the west end of the village dragged him off for drinks. It’s the old carpenter’s birthday today, and he only invited close friends, no big celebration.”

After everyone else finished dinner, Aunt Liu cleared the dishes, with food still left on the stove.

Though it was still early, everyone went back to their rooms, or back to their coffins.

Chen Xiyuan sat on the embankment, while Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li sat upstairs. They sat like that until late into the night.

On a small table beside Chen Xiyuan, there was a bag of melon seeds specially left by Aunt Liu, telling her that even if she didn’t eat dinner yet, she could at least snack on the melon seeds.

Chen Xiyuan didn’t touch them.

The night wind carried a hint of coolness.

The young man knew that Ah Li’s outburst today was precisely a sign of her condition improving further.

Previously, Ah Li was fearful of this world. Everyone in this world, except for a very few close individuals, appeared as another terrifying image in her eyes.

Ah Li’s past episodes of losing control were due to the pressure from the outside world. When stimulated and suppressed to her limit, she would passively lose control.

This time, Ah Li was proactive.

However, in this new stage of recovery, Ah Li had not yet mastered the appropriate level of proactivity.

Once the spark of anger ignited, it would quickly spread like wildfire. If she hadn’t been stopped in time by himself and Grandma Liu, she would have completely lost her self-awareness in the coming period.

Finally, the ice in Ah Li’s eyes completely melted.

She turned her head and looked at the boy.

The previous ice didn’t turn into tears, but the loneliness in the girl’s eyes was very clear.

She was very anxious.

As a listener to the young man’s stories from each “wave,” she understood that he was facing increasingly difficult situations. Her proactively taking on such a heavy workload this time was also a manifestation of her urgency.

She really wanted to accompany the young man, to go on the river with him, standing by his side, or even in front of him.

But she failed.

Earlier, she had also realized her loss of control. She knew very well that in such a state, facing dangerous situations with the young man, she would not only be unable to help him but would also become a burden.

The girl bit her lip, her hands slowly clenching, fingernails digging inward.

The young man timely used his hand to pry open her hands, preventing her fingernails from embedding in her flesh.

“I’ve done that before, and you were very angry when you saw it. Likewise, if you do that, I’ll be very angry too.”

Li Zhuiyuan rejoined the girl’s hands, pressing them down with his left palm. His other hand went to the back of her head, gently pressing her head down until their foreheads rested against each other.

“Your existence is my reason for persevering through every wave and for wanting to return home.

You are never a burden to me. Don’t be discouraged; you are getting better, recovering faster than I am.

See, you have too many pent-up emotions and can’t control them, while I have too few emotions and often don’t have enough.

Therefore, we two are the best complements in the world.”

Chen Xiyuan, sitting on the embankment, looked up at the scene of the little brother and little sister with their foreheads touching under the moonlight upstairs.

Somehow, her lips slowly curled into a smile.

She still felt guilty. If she hadn’t been so jumpy after waking up, and had followed the normal procedures, none of today’s mess would have happened. She knew she shouldn’t be smiling, but an increasing sweetness welled up in her heart, and the more she tried to suppress her smile, the less she could.

She even reached out and grabbed a handful of the melon seeds Aunt Liu had specially left for her.

“Crack!”

The night was too quiet, the melon seeds too crisp. The sound was a bit loud, embarrassing Chen Xiyuan for a moment.

But upon noticing that the two on the balcony weren’t looking at her, she quietly put the melon seeds in her mouth, moistening them with saliva before chewing.

There was nothing she could do. At this moment, her mouth was too sweet, and she wanted to neutralize it with something dry and salty.

Li Zhuiyuan: “I’m hungry.”

Ah Li stood up.

Li Zhuiyuan smiled, and taking the fully recovered Ah Li, went downstairs.

Seeing this, Chen Xiyuan immediately turned her head, spat out all the melon seed shells with a series of “pish pish pish,” then quickly walked forward.

Before she could even open her mouth to explain or apologize, Li Zhuiyuan placed his index finger vertically on his lips.

Chen Xiyuan closed her mouth.

This time, Ah Li faced Chen Xiyuan calmly.

Li Zhuiyuan: “It’s fine, it’s your first time here, you don’t know the situation, it’s not your fault. Don’t feel guilty, and don’t take it to heart.”

If Chen Xiyuan had been scheming, that would be one thing… but the problem was, the word “scheming” just didn’t suit her at all.

Li Zhuiyuan: “You two sit for a bit, I’ll bring out the leftover dinner.”

Ah Li sat down.

Chen Xiyuan sat opposite her. This time, she didn’t dare to speak.

The boiled chicken was still warm, and the other dishes had been thoughtfully kept warm in the pot by Aunt Liu.

When the young man brought all the dinner to the table, Chen Xiyuan’s mouth was still closed, but her stomach sounded like it housed a large flock of pigeons.

Li Zhuiyuan gave Ah Li a separate plate and several small dishes and bowls, meticulously arranging various dishes and rice according to Ah Li’s eating habits.

After portioning, Li Zhuiyuan pointed at the dishes in front of him with his chopsticks and said to Chen Xiyuan: “Eat.”

Chen Xiyuan looked at the young man, then pointed to her mouth.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Speak.”

Chen Xiyuan first let out a breath and said to Ah Li, “Little sister, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made such a joke with you.”

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a piece of poached chicken, didn’t touch the dipping sauce, and put it directly into his mouth. The taste was tender and delicious.

Ah Li looked up at Chen Xiyuan as she spoke. After Chen Xiyuan finished, she lowered her head and ate her meal in due proportion.

But then, both Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li paused with their chopsticks.

Chen Xiyuan untied the jade flute from her waist and placed it in front of Ah Li, smiling:

“Little sister, it’s our first meeting. This is a gift from your older sister!”