Chapter 570
Chapter 570
Chapter 570
Zhang Li's gaze fell on the roster under the stone table, where there was a visitor of similar age named Sun Wei.
Master Sun came to my place yesterday to register, saying that his little granddaughter would be visiting soon.
Unexpectedly, it has been so close recently.
Zhang Li floated out of the pavilion, ready to receive them.
As soon as they approached, the small floral umbrella in Sun Wei's hand started spinning automatically, and the little girl immediately stopped smiling, her eyes filled with fear as she looked in Zhang Li's direction.
Zhang Li stopped.
With trembling hands, Sun Wei pulled a talisman from her pocket, squeezed it a few times, and water seeped out of the talisman. The little girl then wiped it on her eyes.
Upon seeing Zhang Li, she immediately took two steps back in fright, her nose twitching and her eyelashes fluttering rapidly, as if she were about to cry.
But she still took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her fear and unease, holding the small umbrella back with her left hand, and earnestly performing the door greeting with her right hand.
Zhang Li stepped aside and said, "Miss Sun, you mustn't, you mustn't."
Sun Wei insisted on completing the ceremony.
Before she arrived, her elders repeatedly warned her, though they didn't tell her exactly where she was going, that there were very scary people there and that she must not be impolite.
An uncle personally escorted her to Nantong, but for the last leg of the journey, he let her take a rural bus by herself and did not follow her.
Zhang Li looked at Benben, then pointed to Sun Wei, and introduced her:
"This is your teacher Sun's granddaughter, Miss Sun Wei."
The little girl was so polite to him, so naturally he had to do her a favor. It wouldn't be as appropriate for him to guide her himself as it would be for Benben to do it.
Benben finally remembered who this young lady was.
It's all Master Sun's fault. Whenever he has free time, he unfolds his granddaughter's portrait and shows it to his disciple. He's seen so many portraits that he's become prone to face blindness.
Benben walked up to Sun Wei.
Having just emerged from beneath the brickyard and raced through the rain, Benben's current appearance surpasses even that of the most mischievous and slovenly child in the village.
However, Sun Wei still took the initiative to move closer to Benben.
Even if Zhang Li looks kind and gentle, he's still a ghost; no matter what, Benben is still a person.
Benben tilted his head, gesturing for the young lady to follow him.
Sun Wei followed, tilting her small floral umbrella towards Benben to shield him from the rain.
After the two children and the dog had walked away, Zhang Li drifted off to inform the old lady.
Upon arriving at the bearded man's house, Sun Wei was immediately drawn to the peach grove in front of her, and a smile returned to her face.
Until, a shadow fell over.
Sun Wei turned around and saw Xiao Yingying.
Xiao Yingying was wearing an apron, and her hands were still covered in flour.
The water around the little girl's eyes was still wet, and she could vaguely see Xiao Yingying's blurry appearance.
She closed her eyes, fighting back sobs, and bowed.
Xiao Yingying was unfamiliar with these formalities and reached out to help him up.
The little girl trembled all over after the skin came into contact with the skin.
Xiao Yingying quickly let go of her hand. She recognized who this little girl was. Besides showing the painting to Benben, Master Sun also liked to show it to others.
After performing the ceremony, Sun Wei choked up a few times, opened her eyes, and tried to force a smile when she looked at Xiao Yingying again.
Xiao Yingying pointed inside the house, indicating that Benben should take the little girl inside.
Benben asked Sun Wei to come with him.
Upon entering the living room, Sun Wei saw various paper effigies that had been stored away due to the rain. This was quite ordinary, but in one corner of the paper effigies lay many scarecrows with missing arms and legs, and they were still moving!
This is the "helper" that Xiong Shan hired.
However, in the past, it was fine to let scarecrows farm, as they could just avoid the rain. But now that scarecrows are working in brickyards, the damage rate has increased.
Seeing this, Benben led the girl into his room.
"Splash!"
As soon as Sun Wei entered, the painting hanging on the bed fell off and flew out, and two laughing voices surrounded the little girl.
The little girl stood there with her head down, fiddling with her hands.
Realizing that he had frightened someone, the sound disappeared and the scroll was hung back up.
Aunt Liu's voice rang out: "Oh, here it is. The old lady said she wanted to take her to see her."
As they entered the house, Aunt Liu picked up Sun Wei, who then wrapped her arms around Aunt Liu's neck and buried her face in her arms.
Aunt Liu turned around, preparing to take her away.
Sun Wei raised her head again, waved to the painting, Xiao Yingying and the others, and politely said goodbye.
Then, it was quickly buried back up.
We arrived at Li Sanjiang's house.
Aunt Liu placed the little girl in front of Liu Yumei.
Sun Wei was about to bow again when Liu Yumei touched her cheek and said:
"Alright, alright, we don't have that many rules here."
This time, Sun Wei obediently stopped what she was doing and pouted.
Aunt Liu chuckled from the side, "She's kissing you."
Liu Yumei: "The child was frightened. Her grandfather is really irresponsible. How could he let the child come over alone like this?"
Aunt Liu whispered a reminder: "Master Sun is busy."
Liu Yumei took a piece of pastry and handed it to Sun Wei.
"Madam Xie."
Sun Wei reached out her hands to receive it.
Liu Yumei slapped the little girl's hands down with her fingertips and said, "Come on, open your mouth."
Sun Wei opened her mouth.
Liu Yumei fed her a bite.
"Does it suit your taste?"
"Mmm, it's delicious. I've never had this at home before... no... no..."
Realizing she had said something wrong, the little girl became a little anxious.
Liu Yumei pulled Sun Wei in front of her and pointed to the coffee table, saying:
"Come on, help yourself to whatever you want to eat. Forget all the things your elders taught you."
"forget?"
"obedient?"
"I heard it."
Sun Wei took a piece of fragrant rice cake and took a bite.
Does it smell good?
"You smell wonderful, madam. You smell so good too."
"That's right, that's how it should be. Be yourself, cry when you're scared, laugh when you're happy. Don't hold yourself back because of those stupid rules."
Benben rode Xiaohei to deliver paper to Luo Xiaoyu, and then left the kiln with Master Sun to come here.
Master Sun ran faster than a dog.
He hadn't expected his granddaughter to be brought here so quickly, and was worried that she might offend someone because she didn't know the rules.
You know, when he first came here, he was buried behind the house one moment and in the peach grove the next.
When he arrived at the foot of the dam, he saw his granddaughter and the old lady chatting and laughing together, and Master Sun finally felt relieved.
"grandfather."
"Yes." After responding, Master Sun turned to Liu Yumei and said, "I apologize for disturbing the old lady."
Liu Yumei ignored Master Sun and instead beckoned to Benben with her finger.
Benben got off the dog's back and walked over.
Liu Yumei poked Benben's head with her fingertip:
"Even if the engagement is made, whether it will be taken seriously when they grow up is up to you younger generation. But now that the girl is here, you can't let her cry."
Clumsy and clueless.
Liu Yumei picked up her cup, took a sip of tea, and said, "If you make her cry again, I'll tell Xiaoyuan."
Benben nodded vigorously, understanding.
Liu Yumei looked at Master Sun and said, "Alright, you can go and do your thing. Things over there are important, but I'll ask for leave for the child. Is that alright?"
Master Sun: "Of course it's convenient."
Benben is just helping out and broadening his horizons; his absence won't affect the furnace's progress.
Liu Yumei picked up a handkerchief and wiped the little girl's mouth. Sun Wei held up a piece of pastry and handed it to Master Sun.
"Grandpa, this is the best."
Master Sun took it, took a bite, and said, "Mmm, Weiwei, be good. Grandpa's going to get busy now."
"Yes, Vivi is a good girl."
Liu Yumei picked up her teacup, glancing at Benben out of the corner of her eye.
Benben is ultimately a step behind his own Xiaoyuan.
She felt that, at the same age, her own Xiaoyuan would never make this little girl cry.
But this is not a regret. Her own Xiaoyuan is good, but if Xiaoyuan continues to be like this, her heart will also be pounding.
The main issue is that she only has one granddaughter.
Aunt Liu brought over more snacks.
Sun Wei instinctively tried to bow, but Benben nudged her gently, then reached out to take it, took a bite, and gave Aunt Liu her signature shy smile.
The little girl followed suit, and after taking it, she smiled at Aunt Liu, showing her two little tiger teeth.
After a long and winding journey filled with frights, I finally returned to my lively and playful nature, just like when I first got off the bus, "riding a dog with ripped pants."
Master Sun returned to the underground of the kiln and sat down next to Luo Xiaoyu.
Luo Xiaoyu: "Why are you back so soon?"
Master Sun said, "It's not appropriate for me to keep her; my granddaughter is with the old lady."
Luo Xiaoyu: "Isn't this great?"
Suddenly sensing something, Master Sun asked, "If you had an arranged marriage when you were a child, would you have felt uncomfortable?"
Luo Xiaoyu thought about it carefully for a moment and said, "That's absolutely terrifying."
Master Sun nodded and sighed, "I was too hasty. The child is still young. It's enough for him to be a playmate and get to know each other. Why make so many rules? Alas, no one likes their life to be arranged and controlled in advance."
Luo Xiaoyu: "If it's just a simple engagement, and the engagement partner comes to me... I would be very happy, extremely happy."
Master Sun: "Then what you just said..."
Luo Xiaoyu shook his head: "What I mean by 'terrible' is that if I continue to be this 'useless,' my fiancé will come knocking on my door in the future, wanting to break off the engagement."
Master Sun was stunned for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly:
"That was truly terrifying."
Inside the dojo.
Runsheng, Lin Shuyou, Tan Wenbin, and A Li, like Li Zhuiyuan, each sat on a raised platform, with Yin Meng standing in the very center.
This design was added by Zhao Yi at Li Zhuiyuan's request. Its actual value is almost zero. Its only purpose is to make everyone more comfortable when attending meetings and observations.
Yin Meng has been brought back, but whether she can adapt to team operations and how to integrate into the team still needs to be assessed and studied.
Just because someone is called a "partner" doesn't mean they have to be inseparable and always together. Even with Ah Li back then, it was she who took the initiative to step out into the world. The benefits of the team outweighed the drawbacks, so the young man decided to take her out to travel the river.
The intensity of the waves on our side is no joke; we can't risk our comrades' lives to perform a show of loyalty.
At this moment, in front of Yin Meng were pots and pans, two baskets of ingredients, and various seasonings.
Yin Meng herself was wearing an apron and a white hat, and holding a spatula.
Judging from the scene alone, it looks like a culinary skills assessment, with judges sitting around the table ready to taste the food.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Based on past experience, don't be deliberately lax. Focus on making the dish you think you're best at, and make it so that we can eat it."
Yin Meng: "Understood."
Heat oil in a pan, then start cooking.
Unlike before, when something was obviously wrong as soon as I started cooking, this time it looked neat and normal. After reducing the sauce over high heat, a plate of sweet and sour pork ribs lay quietly in the pot, looking and smelling delicious.
As for the taste, no one dared to try it.
Lin Shuyou asked in confusion, "They teach cooking in the underworld?"
Yin Meng: "It might be because they've seen too many of them frying, steaming, and boiling ghosts."
Lin Shuyou exclaimed in astonishment, "How can these be the same?"
Li Zhuiyuan pressed down with one hand, and the five platforms descended, allowing everyone to get off.
Lin Shuyou: "Should we try picking it out with a chopstick?"
Tan Wenbin: "I believe in Mengmeng."
Lin Shuyou: "Brother Bin, I believe it too."
Tan Wenbin: "Then don't touch it with chopsticks. Take this pot outside the temple, don't try it here."
Lin Shuyou didn't expect this kind of trust, but he still obediently picked up the pot.
Li Zhuiyuan released the restriction, and everyone came to the outside of the dojo.
Lin Shuyou poured some spare ribs and broth from the pot onto the ground in front of him. Instantly, a grayish color spread outwards, extinguishing all life in the area and turning it into a deathly still place.
However, its effects are rapid, but they also fade quickly. After reaching its peak, it fades into a dull, fading state, only to return to its former glory.
Even so, if this stuff were splashed on someone, wouldn't that person just evaporate completely?
Moreover, it seems unable to leave any trace in its surroundings.
Tan Wenbin: "Is this the 'corpse-dissolving potion' that has been upgraded so many times?"
Yin Meng looked helpless. This was something she had learned from Aunt Liu while standing at the kitchen window last night.
At this moment, she fully understood why Aunt Liu had strongly resisted her entering the kitchen after she returned.
Master... This is confidence in yourself, confidence in your improved skills.
Tan Wenbin added, "Also, don't show off your cooking skills in front of Miss Chen."
Yin Meng: "I understand."
Li Zhuiyuan looked at A Li: "We need to design a new container; the old pottery jars are no longer suitable."
Ah Li nodded.
This isn't difficult. The waste materials from the kiln are very rare, so you can experiment to your heart's content, or simply carve an array on top of it to maintain the stability of the "new version of corpse-dissolving water".
Yin Meng: "Then... do I need to make any other dishes?"
Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's show you something else."
The group returned to the temple, sat back in their seats, and rose up.
Yin Meng stood in the center, adjusted her breathing, and began to form hand seals and cast various spells.
It's clear that Yin Meng has read a lot of books and learned a lot in the underworld, and she has indeed made great progress compared to her former self. However, the problem is that her progress is still not up to par with the current level of the team.
If that's all there is to it, then Yin Meng will have to temporarily revert to the role she once played as Ah Li and now as Lao Tian Tou, only taking care of logistics at home.
However, Li Zhuiyuan had witnessed Yin Meng impersonating the Great Emperor's illusory figure and taking action for him.
Logically speaking, if Yin Meng were capable of achieving that level, she wouldn't be as mediocre as she is currently displaying.
But she had no need to keep anything to herself at this moment. Perhaps sensing that her companions' eyes were not filled with "amazement," Yin Meng was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Li Zhuiyuan tried to apply Yin Meng's thinking, recalling his experience tutoring Tan Wenbin in his senior year of high school, which has benefited the boy to this day.
"Pause."
Yin Meng stopped casting the spell and pursed her lips.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Of all the spells you learned in the underworld, which one do you think you mastered the best?"
Yin Meng: "A... very simple sealing technique."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Who did you seal with it? A little devil?"
Yin Meng: "No, no, although I am free in the underworld, I don't manage affairs. I'm just practicing on myself."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Did you seal yourself first, and then unseal yourself?"
Yin Meng: "Well, because this spell is on the very first page of the first book in that set of spellbooks... I often start reading from the beginning, so..."
Tan Wenbin: "I understand."
As the former left protector in the classroom, he understood the feeling of immediately picking up a book and pretending to read it as soon as the teacher came in, and naturally became more familiar with the contents of that page.
If we were to put ourselves in Yin Meng's shoes, it's very likely that if there were any disturbance in the main hall where she was, and the Emperor's gaze swept over, she would pretend to be diligently cultivating, giving the Emperor a performance of "I'm sealing myself away."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Let me show you."
Yin Meng: "Whom do I seal?"
Li Zhuiyuan: "Just like before, seal yourself away."
"clear."
Yin Meng formed hand seals, her fingernails turning jet black. Once ready, she crossed her hands and grabbed her arms, then pulled them downwards.
"seal up!"
Yin Meng's aura suddenly decreased.
"Brother Xiaoyuan, I've sealed it."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Untie it."
"clear."
Yin Meng cast the spell again, breaking the seal on herself and allowing her aura to return.
Tan Wenbin's gaze sharpened.
Lin Shuyou's vertical pupils opened, revealing his confusion.
Ah Li's face revealed two small dimples.
Runsheng couldn't see the problem. He was a little sleepy, but since this was the first meeting since Yinmeng came back, he hadn't slept, but he also hadn't brought his brain with him.
Yin Meng had been paying close attention to her companions' reactions. She knew that their strength had increased dramatically; otherwise, her ancestor would not have "returned" her.
"Is there... something wrong with me?"
Lin Shuyou: "The difference in your aura before and after is obvious. Did you expend a lot of energy during the sealing and unsealing process?"
Tan Wenbin: "No, this technique is very simple and won't consume that much energy."
Yin Meng looked at Tan Wenbin: "So, what do you mean?"
Tan Wenbin: "Mengmeng, is it possible that you weren't completely unsealed?"
Yin Meng: "Not completely unsealed? But this is how I've always trained. Have I been training wrong all along? I'm so stupid."
Tan Wenbin looked at Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Xiaoyuan, could it be that Mengmeng's magic is having problems?"
Lin Shuyou: "The magic given by the Great Emperor, how could it have problems?"
Tan Wenbin: "You've been reading books lately. Before you started reading, how did you enter the formation?"
Lin Shuyou: "Of course, it's thanks to the multiplication table that Brother Xiaoyuan gave me."
Tan Wenbin: "Is that right?"
Lin Shuyou: "This..."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Mengmeng, can you transcribe that spell?"
"Yes, Brother Yuan, I remember it perfectly!" Yin Meng picked up a pen and paper and began to write from memory.
Yin Meng remembered it very well, and it was indeed a very simple technique. She quickly wrote it down and sent it to the platform where Li Zhuiyuan was.
Li Zhuiyuan unfolded it and glanced at it.
In fact, it is clear without any examination that the technique is definitely flawed.
It's a very simple logic: once you've successfully sealed yourself away, where do you get the ability to unseal yourself?
Li Zhuiyuan wanted to examine this technique in order to try and find out if it contained the Emperor's "intentions".
Sure enough, there are.
At this moment, Li Zhuiyuan understood the despair emanating from the Great Emperor.
When I tutored Tan Wenbin, I only made plans and created questions. Tan Wenbin's own qualities and intelligence were such that he was able to catch up on all the progress he had missed in the past in just six months.
Yin Meng's talent, or rather, the talent of the Yin family members, has been declining in a straight line for various reasons.
No matter how much effort you put in or how clever your methods are, if your child is not smart enough, they just can't understand or learn.
The Emperor must have been tortured enough to resort to this method. I don't expect you to understand or comprehend it; just memorize it.
Those "gazes" that swept over were actually the Emperor's urging based on the timing of the fire.
In short, the sealing technique was modified by the Great Emperor.
Each time Yin Meng used this technique to seal herself, she never completely unsealed herself. It was as if she was wrapping herself up layer by layer. And in the underworld, especially in the place where Yin Meng was, there was no shortage of pure ghost energy.
This is also why Yin Meng was able to support the appearance of the Great Emperor's phantom, and why there was such a strong mismatch between her soul and body after she was resurrected.
She sealed herself up...
Li Zhuiyuan looked at the offering table for the Fengdu Emperor in the corner of the temple.
Lowering his head, the boy picked up his pen and rewrote a method to unseal the sealing technique.
"Mengmeng, take this and follow it once."
"I need to familiarize myself with and practice first..."
Yin Meng took the paper and saw that it had a lot of words written on it, densely packed, and it was almost a foolproof procedure.
The familiar feeling of being cared for has returned. Yes, that's how Xiao Yuan used to treat us like fools and take care of us.
It feels so good to be treated like an idiot.
Yin Meng sat cross-legged and, following the instructions, began to restart the unsealing process step by step.
The first attempt was successful, and her breathing improved significantly.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Continue to lift the lockdown."
The Yin Meng kept operating, improving each time as if it were inexhaustible.
Gradually, ghostly energy surged and accumulated around Yin Meng.
Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand, restraining the spread of ghostly energy.
Lin Shuyou: "Wow!"
White Crane Boy: "These are the Yin family members! These are the Yin family members!"
General Zeng: "She is not a member of the Yin family. It is because she was able to rely on that person's connections to live in the Underworld and be placed in front of the Great Emperor that she has such good fortune."
Tan Wenbin lit a cigarette. Judging from the current situation, Mengmeng is qualified to return to the team just based on this strong ghostly aura. Not to mention, this is not over yet.
Runsheng couldn't see the ghostly aura, but he could see Yinmeng's red lips and black hair, making her look like a ghost.
Moreover, it wasn't just any ordinary vengeful ghost; it was a truly powerful ghost.
The lockdown is still ongoing, and the ghostly aura is so intense that it resembles surging waves or burning flames.
This scene is comparable to Yayoi's when demonic energy overflowed the long river.
But Yayoi doesn't have the same treatment as Yinmeng. If Yayoi wants to absorb demonic energy, she has to sneak into the Demon Suppression Tower. Yinmeng, on the other hand, sits at the very top of Hell and is worshipped by the seventeen levels below.
"That's enough, stop now."
This isn't the limit of lifting restrictions, it's the limit of cuteness.
Yin Meng's eyes showed struggle as she continued to lift the lockdown.
Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand and pointed forward, and the evil dragon flew out, roaring.
"Roar!"
The ghostly aura stirred up waves, and Yin Meng's gaze cleared:
"Little...Brother Yuan."
If you remove the elements related to cooking and poison production, the current Yinmeng is like a compressed canister filled with ghostly energy.
However, from a practical point of view, it is still lacking.
Fortunately, there are people on our team who can complement him.
Li Zhuiyuan looked at A Li.
Ah Li understood, and leaped off the platform, placing herself amidst the ghostly aura.
The girl closed her eyes, and the evil shadows from her dream appeared one after another. They were no longer illusory, but became solid by borrowing the sinister ghostly aura.
Sinister laughter, screams, cries, curses...
Even this sound has materialized, reverberating throughout the temple and bringing a terrifying sense of oppression.
It should be noted that this was only a simple display of force, without Ah Li urging them to launch a real attack.
"Boom!"
The blood-stained porcelain bottle landed and solidified into a corpse-driving general. Ghostly energy emanated from it, its power surging, clearly a level stronger than when it was summoned in the past.
Ah Li formed another hand seal, and the blood porcelain bottle condensed into a dream ghost. The dream ghost opened its mouth, and ghostly energy entered its mouth. This ghostly energy from all directions immediately transformed into the dream ghost's face, its eyes about to open, drawing everyone around into the dream.
Tan Wenbin's cigarette ash was so hot that he forgot to shake it off.
He used to follow Brother Xiaoyuan across the river with sheer enthusiasm, but now he can look back with a fair perspective. Even after deducting the time he spent training in martial arts beforehand, Ah Li's abilities and qualities are still astonishingly high. His own team, the "Two Dragons Across the River," truly lives up to their name.
White Crane Boy: "I'm most afraid of him, and second most afraid of her."
General Zeng: "I fear the head of the household the most, and the mistress the second most."
White Crane Boy: "..."
After Ah Li finished her demonstration, she stepped out of the ghostly aura.
This concentration, which would be enough to make an outsider instantly lose their senses, had no effect on her.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Return the seal."
Yin Meng began to repackage herself layer by layer.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Take half a day each day to practice in the dojo. Once you are proficient enough, I will give you new methods for sealing and unsealing."
"Okay... Brother Xiaoyuan."
Such a slow pre-cast and post-cast animation is definitely not suitable for sudden situations, but this requires practice. Li Zhuiyuan also has a method to seal and unseal in one go, but the rapid entry and exit of ghost energy in a short period of time is enough to make Mengmeng lose her mind.
After the sealing was completed, Yin Meng collapsed to the ground, exhausted, but a happy smile remained on her face. She knew that she had passed the test and could go out for a walk along the river with her companions.
Li Zhuiyuan walked up to Yin Meng, opened his hand, and a seven-colored leather whip emerged from the recessed steps beside him.
When Li Zhuiyuan first brought people back from Fengdu, he informed Luo Xiaoyu to have this whip made.
Made of precious materials, engraved with array formations and restrictions, it is exceptionally tough, can be opened and closed freely, and can be used to store poisons and medicines.
Li Zhuiyuan picked up the whip and handed it to Yin Meng:
Welcome back.
Last time, the welcome was for people coming home.
Yin Meng took the whip: "Brother Xiao Yuan, you are really different from before, very different."
Li Zhuiyuan didn't say anything more and walked out of the dojo with A Li. He still didn't like expressing emotions. It had nothing to do with feelings; he just simply didn't like it.
When Li Zhuiyuan arrived at the dam, he saw Benben sitting with a little girl who was a little older than him.
The two children sat side by side on a bench with a backrest, with a small black dog lying in front of them to put their feet down. They gazed at the scenery of the fields.
This scene looks so familiar.
Li Zhuiyuan dislikes Benben, and Benben is very afraid of Li Zhuiyuan.
But this doesn't stop Benben from imitating and learning from Li Zhuiyuan as a role model.
With a smile on her face, Liu Yumei pointed to the two children at Li Zhuiyuan.
Li Zhuiyuan: "You came so quickly."
Liu Yumei: "After all, she comes from a noble family of array formation masters. She has little experience of the filth of the martial world. And she is just a young girl who came alone. She was so frightened that she had tears in her eyes."
Li Zhuiyuan: "It was my oversight."
Liu Yumei: "You have to get used to it. Sometimes it's not about manners or etiquette, but when you have the ability to destroy someone's heritage, they will naturally treat you the same way."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Grandma's teachings are correct."
Liu Yumei: "Thank you, Patriarch, for letting this elder have a good chatter session."
Li Zhuiyuan: "In a couple of days, I will set off for the Liu family's ancestral home."
Liu Yumei: "Mm."
She didn't ask why she didn't go along with the last trip.
With his own small house, Xiao Yuan could easily outshine the guests at Bixi and shut up his relatives. They might be poor, but they knew their stuff.
However, Liu Yumei still reminded them: "The relatives in the Liu family's ancestral home are a bit different from those in the Qin family. You have to be more domineering. The more temperamental you are, the more they will like you."
Li Zhuiyuan: "I've got it."
Ah Li went into the kitchen to prepare a bowl of brown sugar poached eggs for the exhausted Mengmeng.
When Li Zhuiyuan arrived at the kitchen door, he saw Aunt Liu standing aside, looking somewhat absent-minded.
Using fear to suppress mental illness is a correct method, but it seems to have gone a bit too far. The main reason is that Li Zhuiyuan did not expect that in Aunt Liu's heart, her anxiety about marriage actually exceeded that of her when she was writing the account books back then.
I can understand that the accounts can be shared by multiple people, but when it comes to marriage, she has to shoulder the burden all by herself.
Actually... not really.
After dinner, Uncle Qin, as usual, boiled water alone in the kitchen.
Li Zhuiyuan walked in.
Uncle Qin: "Xiao Yuan, what do you need to get?"
Li Zhuiyuan: "Qin Li."
Uncle Qin stood up: "Patriarch."
Li Zhuiyuan: "The patriarch decrees: I hereby bestow Liu Ting upon you in marriage. The wedding date will be within one month of whether I succeed or fail."
Uncle Qin: "Patriarch..."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Disobeying orders?"
Uncle Qin knelt on one knee: "Qin Li, receive the patriarch's order!"
Li Zhuiyuan carried a thermos and went upstairs to take a shower.
After boiling the water, Uncle Qin returned to the north room of the west wing.
After a busy day with nothing to do, Aunt Liu curled up in the corner of the bed, behaving in a way that was abnormally normal.
Uncle Qin sat down by his bedside, looked at Aunt Liu, and smiled.
Aunt Liu frowned, inexplicably relieved of her anxiety, and scolded Qin Li:
"What are you grinning like an idiot for so late at night?"
……
Master Sun was still working the night shift at the brickyard. At night, Sun Wei slept in the same room as Chen Xiyuan.
In the morning, Sun Wei got up, washed up, and went downstairs.
In the kitchen, Xiao Yingying was making pan-fried dumplings; one serving had already been plated.
Sun Wei walked timidly to the kitchen door.
Xiao Yingying glanced at her, her face expressionless, mainly because she was afraid of frightening her and dared not make any expression.
Sun Wei reached out, picked up a fried dumpling, and took a bite:
"Delicious, smells so good."
After saying that, he bowed, turned around, and walked away.
The number of disabled scarecrows in the living room has increased again; a new one was added last night due to a workplace injury.
Sun Wei mustered her courage and approached, observing the Chenzhou talisman pasted on the scarecrow's back.
Then, she went into Benben's room and looked at the painting hanging on the bed.
Good morning, everyone.
The scroll emitted a crisp sound, accompanied by faint laughter in response.
"I'm still a little scared. Let me get used to it a bit, and then we'll...we'll play together."
The advantage of sleeping with Miss Chen is that Miss Chen is very talkative. After listening to the stories of all the relatives from Sun Wei, she also relayed some of the local information to the little girl.
They are terrifying beings, but once you know where they came from, they are not so scary anymore.
Benben stood on the dam, leading his dog.
Because of Sun Wei, he was able to take a holiday and not go to the brickyard, but on the condition that he had to stay with the little girl and not let her cry again.
Sun Wei walked up to Benben and took out some money from her pocket:
"Shall I take you on a car ride to see your little sister?"
The yellow pickup truck drove out of the path and onto the village road, where it happened to see Xiao Hei walking back alone.
Tan Wenbin stuck his head out and patted the car door.
Little Black: "Woof woof woof woof!"
Tan Wenbin: "Heh, Benben and that little girl are going to take the bus to the city."
Lin Shuyou, gripping the steering wheel, exclaimed in disbelief, "Brother Bin, you're amazing! You can even communicate with animals now!"
Tan Wenbin reached out and pressed Lin Shuyou's head, turning it so that anyone with normal eyesight could see two small figures waiting for a car by the roadside at the village entrance in the distance.
Lin Shuyou: "Haha, Benben is really smart."
Tan Wenbin: "Benben is smart, so he won't take advantage of people so quickly. It must be that the girl took the initiative to take him there."
Lin Shuyou: "How could she possibly know..."
Tan Wenbin: "The only family that would be suitable for her to sleep at Big Beard's house is Miss Chen."
Lin Shuyou: "That makes sense."
After the two children got into the car, Tan Wenbin let Lin Shuyou drive off. He followed behind, watching the two children enter the city and then transfer to another vehicle. Finally, when he saw them go to the Bai family's funeral clothing store, Lin Shuyou drove off towards Langshan.
Yayoi is going to accompany her grandfather to a vegetarian feast today, and asks them to pass on the money they have earned these days to the master and apprentice. Tan Wenbin also wants to go and see, since his own brother Xiao Yuan's donation box is also there.
Upon entering the scenic area and arriving at the shop entrance, one is immediately drawn to a red wooden "marriage bridge" displayed at the door. Mi Guang sits beside it, selling marriage locks and plaques that can be engraved with names.
Tan Wenbin: "Business is good, look how many are hanging here."
Mi Guang: "Hehe, this is the third wooden bridge we've replaced since the Lunar New Year."
Yang Banxian was organizing the goods in the shop, all of which were love souvenirs, aiming to encourage couples to come in and make a second purchase.
Tan Wenbin handed Yayoi's money to Yang Banxian, who declined, saying, "No need, no need, business is booming."
"Just keep it, consider it as keeping it for him."
"Okay, I'll take it."
"That's a good idea."
"I've had this idea for a while, but as you know, it's not suitable to set this up in a ghost town. It's all about lovers meeting on the Magpie Bridge, not meeting in the underworld."
A couple came in, bought a lock, had Mi Guang engrave their names on it, and then hung it up themselves. Their faces were filled with solemnity and seriousness.
After they finished hanging up, Master Yang called them in from the back of the shop, saying he would give them a red string for marriage, which was actually just a very ordinary red string.
Once the couples come in, it's time for Yang Banxian to perform. He can't set up a fortune-telling stall here, but he can talk about facial features and palm lines to make you very happy.
Young couples are easily embarrassed; they feel bad if they don't buy something after having a good time.
Soon, a deal was struck. Yang Banxian gave them two cups of tea. They were going up the mountain, and if they got hungry on their way down, they might buy some snacks from him. He also sold boiled corn and oden.
No sooner had he left than a family of three arrived. They stood in front of the wooden magpie bridge, looked around, didn't buy a lock, and then led their child into the store to browse. Master Yang didn't say a word, and the family of three left after they finished shopping.
Yang Banxian laughed and said, "Those who know how to manage their money should save their breath, since money is hard to earn."
Tan Wenbin: "This is a technical job."
Yang Banxian brewed tea for Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou, and recounted some events since the shop opened.
As they were chatting, another young man came in through the door.
Ah You glanced at it first, then reached out and nudged Tan Wenbin.
Tan Wenbin looked over and saw that it was a young man. He immediately understood why Ayou had asked him to go and see.
Because this man is very good-looking.
The young man was fair-skinned with harmonious features, and his gentle and refined demeanor was very pleasant to be around.
When you see him, you'll subconsciously look around the corner to see if someone is filming a movie there with a camera.
Tan Wenbin joked, "It's rare to meet someone outside who's even more handsome than my friend."
Tan Wenbin had personally witnessed the book lover's handsomeness many times.
Back in college, I would often wake up during breaks and see female classmates approaching me, wanting to get to know me.
Lin Shuyou: "Brother Bin, he's different, there's that feeling about him..."
Yang Banxian: "Yes, it's cultivated, not from an ordinary family. Other men can also cultivate this gentle temperament, but they are usually older by then."
Major clients.
Master Yang stepped out of the shop and took the initiative.
Unfortunately, this big customer only bought a pair of marriage locks. He didn't need Miguang's help; he carved his own name on them, hung them up, and then continued hiking without coming into the store.
But Yang Banxian didn't feel like he had wasted his breath. Instead, he walked back to the shop with satisfaction, as if chatting with that person up close was quite enjoyable.
Master Yang: "What a pity, what a pity."
Tan Wenbin: "They came to Nantong to get engaged, what are you regretting?"
Master Yang: "Wow, you have such good hearing! It's a pity I didn't get to see his partner; she's probably a..."
Tan Wenbin: "That's not necessarily true; handsome men and beautiful women are rare."
Yang Banxian: "That's right, people like that one and the one next to him are indeed very rare."
Tan Wenbin: "However, judging from his accent, he seems to be from the north, just like my brother Xiaoyuan."
Lin Shuyou: "Does Brother Xiaoyuan have an accent?"
Tan Wenbin: "Compared to you, I really don't."
After chatting for a while longer, Tan Wenbin got up and prepared to leave with Ayou.
Ah-you was at the door, wanting to choose some oden to eat.
Tan Wenbin stood to the side waiting, stretched, and glanced at the wooden magpie bridge. The inscriptions on it were all in the hand of Mi Guang, which made a pair of inscriptions stand out. Mi Guang's calligraphy was quite beautiful, but the inscriptions on the other side looked like calligraphy, and the carving technique was far superior to that of Mi Guang.
That very handsome young man was the one who did the carving.
Tan Wenbin reached out to flip through the pair of marriage locks, first looking at the man's name, Su Yizhou; then he looked at the woman's name, and immediately, Tan Wenbin's eyes snapped open, for the woman's name was:
"Li Lan".
(End of this chapter)