Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 374

Li Zhuiyuan was not a vengeful person.

However, some grudges are indeed beyond our current strength and circumstances to avenge.

If it were someone with a more resilient mind, they would probably choose to lower their head, endure and develop their strength, and wait for the right opportunity.

The boy didn't like it.

He was used to devouring as much of his enemy's flesh as he could possibly have an appetite.

From another perspective, the boy was actually treating his enemies as a resource.

Evil spirits are like this, as are those who conspired to scheme against Uncle Qin in the past, and the top forces in the martial arts world who once tried to pressure and coerce, and even attempted to wipe out the Qin and Liu families.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up again, gazing at the dense, overlapping light and shadow in the sky.

This is just the beginning.

Don't think that just because you ran away and aren't here anymore, you can get away with what you did to Ah Li back then.

The merits I have accumulated are so numerous that I can hardly use them all.

I still have waves to go through, and with each wave I finish, the merits I can't actively use will accumulate even more.

Just wait and see.
I will come to find you during the intervals between waves.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the purple-gold compass in front of him, which was wrapped in the spirit of the dragon.

Start with the nearest areas and work your way out. Once the areas near Nantong are cleared, select another specific area and conduct targeted cleanup within that area.

They called roll one by one and reported to their respective locations.

The unsatisfactory ending left by the ancestors of the Qin and Liu families has now become another gift to them.

Like a treasure map, the young man only needs to follow the clues to gradually reap the rewards.

This is not an evil spirit at all; it is clearly a precious gem, like ginseng, waiting to be discovered.

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze swept carefully over the three evil spirits in front of him.

I successfully created a small wave for the first time, both theoretically and in initial practice. However, I still need to sort out the details and process.

He didn't know whether he would have to use his compass to calculate the locations of the three places himself, or whether a stream, like a river, would bring him water droplets about them.

The answer should be revealed soon, in the next few days.

After all, the "fine" has already been paid, and the money deducted by Heaven must be returned to the "goods".

This is the reputation of real estate agents.

If you have "merit" in your hands, which is "money", firstly, you don't know where to buy it. This kind of business is illegal and irregular. There are no such shops through legitimate channels. You can't spend it even if you want to.
Secondly, even if you find a black market, you still have to worry about the lack of protection for black market transactions, and you may be cheated or end up with nothing.

Now that I've paid the fine, Heaven, following the principle of procedural justice, must confirm my "crime."

A smile appeared on Li Zhuiyuan's lips.

The boy knew that Heaven had been targeting him all along. Heaven was wary of his martial arts training and wouldn't allow him to grow up. He had been enduring the terrifying pressure from the sky above him.

Now, he can finally launch a small counterattack.

Although he is still an ant at present, a thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant hole.

Even when facing the "enemy" who bullied him, the young man would take steps to seek revenge whenever he had the opportunity.

Li Zhuiyuan turned around and walked back to the bungalow.

Ah Li, who was standing inside the threshold, leaned slightly to the side, carefully examining the appearance of the three evil spirits behind the boy.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Ali, I'll draw it."

Ah Li shook her head, her lips slightly pursed.

"Alright, alright, you draw, you draw. After all, my Ah Li is my art teacher."

Two dimples appeared on the girl's face.

The boy was worried that she would get tired, because after this trip, Ah Li's workload was significantly more than before, but the girl enjoyed the feeling of being able to help the boy.

The two sat on the terrace playing chess, only able to remember that moment of starry sky, but the things she made and processed for the boy continued to have an effect the next time he went out.

They both closed their eyes at the same time, then opened them again, returning to reality.

Li Zhuiyuan first put away the Purple Gold Compass, then looked down at the Emerald Flute in his hand.

This is truly a treasure.

It's a pity that the Chen family of Qiongya has such a strong family tradition, and Chen Xiyuan's personality is too kind and simple.

I simply couldn't bring myself to turn her into an enemy or a resource.

This jade flute could not be turned into "stolen goods" that were lost from me.

Li Zhuiyuan walked up to the portrait and made a vow.

Before the Bodhisattva statue, three more incense sticks should be lit, not to thank the one struggling in hell, but to thank Sun Boshen.

Sun Baishen hated the Bodhisattva to the extreme, but because of his relationship with Wei Zhengdao, Wei Zhengdao trusted him exceptionally, which made him spare no effort in helping him undermine the Bodhisattva.

Then, the boy lit three incense sticks before the portrait of the Emperor of Fengdu and silently recited:

"Master, you've worked hard."

Calling someone "Great Emperor" is a title; calling them "Master" carries a hint of irony.

The boy knew that every time he called out "Master," it would remind his master of the night when the door at home couldn't be closed because the lock was broken.

Time seemed to stand still within the temple grounds. When Li Zhuiyuan and A Li emerged, they found it was already one o'clock in the afternoon.

Grandpa and the others went out today and weren't home, so Aunt Liu naturally knew where she and A-Li had gone and didn't rush to call for lunch.

Just as the boy and girl came out, Aunt Liu's familiar voice came from the open space in front:
"Lunch is ready!"

On one hand, Aunt Liu sensed the reappearance of the boy and A Li, and on the other hand, Tan Wenbin picked up Grandma Yao from the train station.

As Grandma Yao watched the car drive further and further into the countryside, she felt a pang of heartache and worry. But when she got off the car and saw the young lady playing cards with a group of old women on the dam, she burst into tears of laughter.

After leaving the Liu family, she had long been living an ordinary life and knew the happiness of such a life. Now, she saw it in the young lady as well.

"Shan'er, come here, let me introduce you."

Liu Yumei waved to Yao Shan.

As Grandma Yao walked onto the dam, her legs grew weaker the closer she got. She really wanted to greet the young lady according to old customs, but her heart was as delicate as a needle. From the three elderly women at the table who were the same age as her, she could see their "ordinariness".

Therefore, Yao Shan kept up her spirits, but when she walked up to the young lady, she lost her balance. Fortunately, Liu Yumei reached out and supported her in time.

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

Aunt Liu brought the food up.

In the past, when playing cards, Liu Jinxia and her two companions would not eat here. They would go back to their own homes at mealtimes. Granny Hua lived alone and would often go to Liu Jinxia's house for a meal. Every month, Granny Hua would buy Cuicui some expensive snacks and pretty stationery.

Today, since Liu Yumei spoke up, no one wanted to refuse, so everyone stayed to eat together.

The round table that used to be Liu Yumei's own was now occupied by five people.

Dining at the same table with the young lady made Yao Shan feel a little uncomfortable. Several times she tried to take the dishes and wine pot that Aunt Liu brought, but Aunt Liu gently pressed them down, indicating that she should just keep the old lady company.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious and joyful.

There was a slight pause, probably so that Grandma Yao could understand. Liu Jinxia and the other two could not speak Nantong dialect, but only Mandarin.

Even so, communication is still quite difficult, because in the elderly people's understanding, Mandarin is just speaking Nantong dialect slowly, word by word.

Liu Yumei instructed Liu Jinxia and the other two to go back and bring over the clothes that needed mending, saying that Shan'er was skillful and it would be a good opportunity for them to see her work.

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

Liu Yumei waved her hand casually: "What a coincidence, make one set for each of them."

After the meal, Liu Jinxia and the other two went back to their respective homes, each bringing only a piece of clothing that needed mending.

While they played cards, Grandma Yao sat next to Liu Yumei, watching the young lady play cards while mending clothes.

In each round of the long card game, one person gets a bye, and when that person gets a bye, she takes their measurements.

Although she could have easily determined the measurement with a glance, she still took out a ruler and made a detailed measurement.

Liu Jinxia, ​​who was at the front, was a little embarrassed and wanted to decline, but Liu Yumei just tapped her fingertips on the table, and Liu Jinxia smiled and took the initiative to cooperate.

The card game ended at dusk. Before leaving, Liu Jinxia said that she would come to pick up Sister Liu and take her to her home, and repeatedly told her not to bring anything, as everything was arranged there.

Finally finding some time to be alone, Yao Shan followed Liu Yumei into the east room. She first knelt and kowtowed before the offering table, and finally knelt and crawled to serve tea to the young lady.

This scene had been in her mind for a long time. To her, the young lady not only had the kindness of protecting the Liu family, but also the virtue of changing her son's fate in the secular world.

Liu Yumei sat in the chair, her hand on the armrest, and said, "I'm tired after playing cards all day. You're handing it to me from so far away, I can't reach it."

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

Liu Yumei took the teacup, took a sip, gestured for her to sit down beside her, and chatted with Yao Shan for a while.

Ask her about her family, her son and daughter-in-law, and her two grandsons.

Yao Shan answered all of them.

After she finished asking the questions, she immediately took over the conversation from the young lady, first inquiring about Miss A-Li's recent situation, and then praising the young master she had met in Luoyang.

Liu Yumei laughed and said, "I really didn't understand before. Now that I'm old, I understand what it means to live off my children and grandchildren. Haha."

Yao Shan: "Miss, you don't look old at all. In my eyes, you are still the same as you were back then."

Liu Yumei: "You and I are both grandmothers now. If we keep saying these things, people will laugh at us."

Liu Jinxia's whole family came out; Xianghou and Cuicui both came to pick them up.

Ah Li did not resist going to Cuicui's house because the boy told her that he would be waiting for her at Cuicui's door the next morning.

Before leaving, Liu Yumei helped A Li take a bath and change clothes, and also packed two sets of pajamas, clothes for the next day, and toiletries.

Liu Jinxia wanted to say that her family had all of these things and there was no need to bring them, but when she saw Aunt Liu putting the boxes of items belonging to Sister Liu into Xianghou's tricycle, she swallowed her words and instead told her daughter not to ride it, but to push it, so as not to damage the items.

Before going down to the dam, Liu Yumei glanced at Aunt Liu.

Aunt Liu understood and put a lock on the door to the east room.

Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu stay here at night, so it's impossible for outsiders to break in. This security measure is designed to prevent unauthorized entry by internal personnel.

Upon arriving at Liu Jinxia's home, rooms were assigned.

Liu Jinxia wanted Ali to sleep in Cuicui's room, but Liu Yumei was about to refuse for Cuicui's safety.

Then, she saw her granddaughter walk into Cuicui's room.

This made Cuicui extremely happy.

At night, she would ask her sister A-Li if she wanted to watch TV, drink milk or soda, eat snacks, or look at her own picture book stickers. A-Li didn't respond. She just lay silently on the inside of the bed, with her head on the pillow, her hands folded over her stomach, her eyes closed, and went to sleep.

Cui Cui lay down on her side, supporting her head with her hand. Moonlight streamed in through the window, allowing her to see her sister A Li's sleeping face.

"Sister A-Li, you look so beautiful."

When her brother, Yuanhou, first visited her home, he took a nap on her bed, and she watched him the whole time.

Young girls may not know what marriage or family is, but they are familiar with the game of playing house.

At this moment, Cui Cui couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions and anticipation in her heart:
"Brother Yuanhou is so handsome, and Sister Ali is so beautiful too. I wonder how good-looking their future child will be."

In another room.

Liu Yumei asked Yao Shan to sleep in the same bed with her, but Yao Shan refused this time. She said that it wasn't because she cared about the hierarchy, but because she would be so excited and uneasy that she wouldn't be able to sleep all night.

Fortunately, the layout of the beds here is such that there is a long wooden table under the wooden bed. In the summer, many people would rather sleep on this table than on the bed, in order to stay cool.

Liu Yumei slept on the outside of the bed, while Yao Shan slept on the long table below. It was still early, and the two continued talking.

As she spoke, Liu Yumei smiled.

There was a person standing outside the door, and she had been standing there for a long time; it was Liu Jinxia.

Seeing her hesitating outside, Liu Yumei asked, "Who is it?"

Liu Jinxia pushed open the door and came in, carrying a bamboo mat, a quilt, and a pillow.

And so, Liu Jinxia also made a makeshift bed on the floor in this room, and the three old ladies chatted until late at night.

Early in the morning, Ah Li opened her eyes on time.

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

Liu Yumei got up as well, and Yao Shan opened her eyes, her eyes slightly red.

Even though the young lady's movements were very quiet, she still noticed them, because even though they didn't share a bed, she was still too excited to sleep all night.

Helpless, Liu Yumei stretched out a finger and poked Yao Shan's forehead. Yao Shan smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

In the morning, Yao Shan helped A Li with her makeup.

Xianghou set an alarm last night and woke up very early. When they came downstairs, Xianghou had almost finished making breakfast.

Xianghou found it amusing that all the guests were already up, while his own mother and daughter were still fast asleep.

While getting ready, Yao Shan noticed that Miss A Li suddenly smiled.

She looked up and, sure enough, it was her son-in-law.

Li Zhuiyuan had breakfast at Aunt Xianghou's place, then took A Li's hand and led the girl home in the morning light.

Yao Shan hadn't slept all night but wasn't sleepy at all. She took a rope and measuring tape and helped Xiang Hou measure his body size. She also said she wanted to make a set of clothes for Cuicui as well.

Xianghou tried to refuse, but Grandma Yao shut her down with one sentence: "Your mother agreed last night."

Xiang Hou was about to take out the money for the custom-made clothes when Yao Shan pretended to touch her pocket and asked Xiang Hou if she also needed to pay for the accommodation.
Let alone this amount of money, which Yao Shan wouldn't even consider, if we're really talking about money, many of the clothes made by tailors of equal skill and status in history are now displayed in museums.

Two more days passed in this way. Every morning, Li Zhuiyuan would pick A Li up from Cuicui's house and take her back at night.

The rest of the time, the two of them are either in the small workshop behind the house or in the room on the second floor. There is too much work to do, and so far they have only just begun to prepare the necessary tools.

To avoid trouble, Liu Yumei ate all three meals at Liu Jinxia's house during the day and played cards there as well. But every evening, Liu Yumei would go back to her east room and take a bath with A Li.

Some habits are hard to break. You can't bring your own bathtub and other items when you visit someone's home and ask for a place to stay. That would not only be ostentatious, but it would also hurt their feelings.

Today, after Liu Yumei finished washing up, A Li went inside to wash up as well.

Aunt Liu was busy in the kitchen; the dishes for tonight's meal were a bit special.

As usual, Li Sanjiang inspected the kitchen. Seeing the food being prepared today, he couldn't help but nod and say:

"Yes, it's time to change the diet and feed them a different kind of grass."

The mules' appetite had not recovered, and Li Sanjiang was very worried about it.

But soon, Li Sanjiang saw Aunt Liu holding the chicken by the head in one hand and using a spoon in the other to pour boiling water over the whole chicken. After a while, she simply turned off the fire in the stove and put the chicken in the pot to simmer.

Li Sanjiang asked in surprise, "What kind of practice is this?"

As Aunt Liu took the chicken out and began chopping it, Li Sanjiang blinked hard, noticing a tiny bit of blood still remaining in the bones.
"Tinghou, it doesn't seem to be cooked yet."

Aunt Liu: "It's cooked through. This way, the skin is crispy and the meat is tender, allowing you to enjoy the original flavor. Just make a dipping sauce and it'll be perfect."

Li Sanjiang scratched his head.

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

In the room on the second floor, Li Zhuiyuan hung three paintings that A Li had personally painted on the wall.

The painting on the left depicts a creature wearing a black mask and covered in scales, resembling both a human and a beast.

The middle painting depicts a charming woman with a mole on the corner of her mouth, her lower body surrounded by the gnarled roots of an old tree.

The painting on the right depicts a figure dressed in red, with hands but no feet, resembling a ghost, and a single eye between the eyebrows.

The homemade waves haven't arrived yet, but Li Zhuiyuan has a feeling they will arrive in the next day or two.

Originally, Li Zhuiyuan planned to lead his men to resolve the issues one place at a time, but now the young man felt it was unnecessary.

Zhao Yi has already sent word that he and his men will arrive tomorrow.

According to the boy's deduction, Chen Xiyuan should sober up tonight.

It would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut for these two groups to deal with such a wretched evil.

But aren't non-staff personnel meant to do the work?
Li Zhuiyuan, holding a book in his hand, walked out of the room and onto the terrace. Just as he was about to sit down on the rattan chair, he saw Liu Yumei standing on the dam, looking up at him.

The boy was just out to read a book before it got completely dark, and he was holding "The Righteous Path to Subdue Demons" in his hand, choosing the next stage of evil magic in advance.

However, sometimes being too smart isn't necessarily a good thing.

Li Zhuiyuan could see the deeper meaning in Grandma Liu's eyes: What, knowing that she was about to wake up, you came out to squat down in advance?
The boy felt that Grandma Liu didn't need to think in that direction, but he also understood the sense of crisis in Grandma Liu's heart.

It seemed inappropriate to stay seated, but getting up and going back would make me seem guilty.

Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to speak up: "Grandma, I have something I'd like to ask you."

The boy went downstairs, sat down next to Liu Yumei, and asked the old lady about the Ming family's past and present.

Aunt Liu, who had finished cooking early and was leaning against the kitchen doorway preparing to eat sunflower seeds, kicked Uncle Qin, who was returning carrying a hoe, and nodded her chin towards the boy and the old lady:

"Learn more from others."

Clever people flatter in a subtle and pervasive way. Aunt Liu noticed the old lady's glance at the boy just now, but now that the boy was asking about Long Wangming, it undoubtedly touched the old lady's deepest joy.

The reason is simple: the Dragon King Ming family has not only lost its current generation of river-walkers, cutting off any possibility of this generation vying for the Dragon King title, but the entire family is now facing a very difficult situation.

As they were engrossed in their conversation, in the east room, Ah Li, soaking in the bathtub, turned her head to look at her empty right side. A surprised voice came from behind:

"Huh? Just how powerful are your senses? You can actually detect me?"

The domain was retracted, revealing Chen Xiyuan's figure.

Her drunkenness finally wore off.

When I woke up, I noticed that someone was taking a shower in the room.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that there was a little girl in the bathtub.

But this little girl is unbelievably beautiful, as if every part of her body is a masterpiece of design. And this is only because she is young. When she grows up to be sixteen or seventeen, her graceful figure will be so stunning that even the most skilled painter in the world would not know how to capture it.

Chen Xiyuan remembered playing the zither and flute together with the old lady of the Liu family, drinking heavily until they were drunk. This must be the old lady's residence, the place where the little girl could bathe...

"You must be the youngest sister of the Qin family?"

Ah Li just looked at her without responding.

"Your name is Qin Li, right?"

Ah Li just kept looking at her.

"You are the younger brother's betrothed, no, the younger brother is your betrothed husband, haha."

Ah Li's gaze narrowed slightly.

In the center of the bathtub, water droplets floated up, while the petals that were originally floating on the surface sank to the bottom and gathered underwater. At this moment, the temperature in the entire room also dropped rapidly.

Chen Xiyuan thought she had mistaken someone for someone else and asked again, "Huh? You're not Qin Li? Not the little brother's little sister?"

The color in Ah Li's eyes instantly faded, and all the memorial tablets on the offering table began to shake collectively.

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

Chen Xiyuan took a few steps back, like an older sister who had done something wrong, shaking her head and waving her hands repeatedly: "Don't be angry, don't be angry..."

A python formed from flower petals emerged from beneath the water and flicked its tongue in the direction of Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan: "The Liu Family's Qi Observation Technique..."

This may seem like an ordinary technique, but it contains profound and subtle secrets.

Furthermore, as the petal python further emerged from the bathtub, tiny jets of water converged around its body, eventually coalescing into a crystal-like horn atop its head.

Chen Xiyuan: "You're the little sister, and the little brother is your door-to-door..."

Li Zhuiyuan was able to master the inheritance of the Qin and Liu families because the boy was smart enough to learn everything quickly. But when it comes to adapting to the original techniques of the Qin and Liu families, A Li, as the only person in the world with the blood of both families, is the most naturally gifted.

"Buzz!"

The petals that had transformed from python into dragon rushed towards Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan raised her flute, intending to block.

But she quickly realized that this was not enough; she might actually be injured by this spell, so she had no choice but to open the domain.

"boom!"

The entire east room trembled, but as the sword on the bed stood upright, the spreading power instantly dissipated into nothingness.

Liu Yumei's voice rang out from outside: "Ali."

Ah Li stood up from the bathtub. Her grandmother's voice did not stir any emotion in her cold eyes. Beneath the girl, pythons emerged again, all sticking out their heads.

"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"

Each python sprouts horns as it flies away, instantly doubling its power.

"Ali."

Li Zhuiyuan's voice came from outside.

This time, Ah Li's usually indifferent eyes flickered.

The girl closed her eyes.

"Snapped!"

Before they could even touch Chen Xiyuan, all the water dragons collapsed, soaking the entire hall.

The girl sat back down in the bathtub.

The door was opened, and Liu Yumei entered.

The old lady first waved her hand, sweeping out all the remaining water in the bathtub, and then pointed with her other fingertip, and a set of clothes fell onto Ah Li.

Throughout the entire process, the girl kept her eyes closed and made no other movements.

Chen Xiyuan raised her hands, looked at Liu Yumei, and said with deep remorse:
"Madam, I was wrong."

Liu Yumei sighed, shook her head, and smiled slightly; "It's normal for you peers to have some quarrels."

In fact, even Liu Yumei herself didn't know why A Li was suddenly so angry.

Before meeting Xiao Yuan, Ah Li had instances where she couldn't control herself and was about to go berserk when strangers approached, but she would only hurt people and not take their lives.

Since Xiaoyuan came here, his granddaughter has rarely been in such an out-of-control state.

Judging from the water stains and lingering aura of the python in the room, the granddaughter really did use a lot of force just now.

Of course, such a heavy blow wouldn't actually pose a life-or-death crisis to Chen Xiyuan, but if the Chen family girl failed to open her domain in time, she might also get injured as a result.

Liu Yumei subconsciously glanced at Chen Xiyuan standing there again.
Heart Road:

Did this girl just directly tell her own granddaughter that she wanted to take Xiao Yuan away from her?

Li Zhuiyuan waited outside. After a while, Liu Yumei came out holding A Li's hand.

Ah Li's indifferent gaze worried Liu Yumei greatly.

Fortunately, when Xiao Yuan reached out his hand to his granddaughter, she took the initiative to give her hand to the boy.

Li Zhuiyuan noticed that A Li's hands were very cold.

Forgetting about dinner, Li Zhuiyuan took the girl upstairs and sat on the wicker chair on the terrace.

The girl sat upright with her back straight, her hands held by the boy.

In her eyes, Li Zhuiyuan saw ice that had not yet completely melted.

On the dam, Chen Xiyuan kept apologizing to Liu Yumei and told her about what had happened inside and what she had said.

Chen Xiyuan was genuinely anxious and guilty; her eyes were brimming with tears, and her voice trembled with sobs.

She had just arrived at their home and had been drunk for several days, which was already a great breach of etiquette. As a result, as soon as she sobered up, she made her younger brother's girlfriend and the old lady's granddaughter look like they were sick. Even if she had two mouths, she would have a hard time explaining whether she came to visit or to seek revenge.

Seeing that the Chen family girl was about to burst into tears, Liu Yumei was both amused and exasperated.

Everyone has to show their true colors in front of her; she can tell that this girl is really a big fool.

Liu Yumei: "Who told you that Xiao Yuan is my family's live-in son-in-law?"

Chen Xiyuan was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously looked up at the boy on the terrace. She thought that this was what her little brother had told her, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed that although her little brother had never denied the relationship between her and the Qin and Liu families, he had never admitted that he was a son-in-law who had married into the family.

It seems like I've always been the one recommending sons-in-law to my family?

Liu Yumei: "I never thought of having Xiaoyuan become my family's son-in-law."

Although Liu Yumei had secretly prepared several baskets of names for her future great-grandchildren, one of the baskets contained names all surnamed Li.

Having lived her whole life in the world, she had a clear understanding of human nature and social dynamics. Years ago, she had told Aunt Liu that if she really wanted to find a son-in-law to live with her family, she should find someone mediocre and dutiful so that they could live a stable life. The worst thing was to have both: to find a capable and ambitious man who had crossed the river from abroad. Even if he chose to lie low for a while due to unfavorable circumstances, he might harbor resentment in his heart when he rose to power in the future, which would be like making an enemy of her own.

Xiao Yuan is legally an heir to the lineage of two Dragon King families, not a son-in-law. Even if Xiao Yuan himself doesn't care about that, Liu Yumei would have to be out of her mind to talk to this child about "marrying into the family".

Given Xiao Yuan's feelings for the Qin and Liu families, he should agree to continue the family line for each of them. However, this is not based on his orders; he will have to humble himself and ask for it.

Liu Yumei: "You shouldn't have insulted Xiaoyuan in front of A Li."

The reason her granddaughter attacked the Chen family girl this time was not because the Chen family girl was close to her, but because she was protecting Xiao Yuan.

Fine, although I would never have done that in the first place, the person who was most opposed to Xiao Yuan marrying into the family was actually my own granddaughter.

Chen Xiyuan's eyes widened, and she asked in confusion, "Insult? What insult? Is being a live-in son-in-law an insult?"

Liu Yumei: "Didn't your grandparents tell you?"

Chen Xiyuan opened her mouth, a look of understanding on her face, then clenched her fists and took a deep breath:

"My grandparents lied to me!"

Liu Yumei didn't know how to comment. It must be that those two loved their precious granddaughter too much and were reluctant to let her marry out of the family. As a result, they reshaped her concept of a "son-in-law who lives with the family" early on, fearing that their granddaughter would be kidnapped by some man outside.

This silly girl is still walking along the river, and she's been walking for so long. How did she manage to survive?

In terms of interpersonal skills, he is even worse than Ah Li, who rarely goes out.

Just how talented is this girl?

Aunt Liu came over and asked, "Shall we have dinner? I've specially prepared Hainanese dishes 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."

"Gulu...Gulu..."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a sound came from inside Chen Xiyuan's stomach.

The carefree collaboration and unrestrained enjoyment under the peach grove had long since exhausted her energy. After sleeping for three days straight, even with her metabolism slowed down, she still felt incredibly hungry.

Liu Yumei reached out and patted Chen Xiyuan's head: "It's okay, A-Li is fine, you don't need to worry about it."

Chen Xiyuan seemed to suddenly remember something, took a few steps back, and wanted to formally greet the old lady.

"No need for now, no need for now. I have to go to my neighbor's house for dinner, so I can't keep you company. I guess you haven't made up your mind yet. Tomorrow, I'll have a proper talk with you and ask about your grandparents' situation."

After saying that, Liu Yumei walked down the dam. This time, she did not take A Li with her.

Tan Wenbin returned with Lin Shuyou: "Hey, Captain, you're finally awake."

Zhou Yunyun had already returned to school. Today, he took Lin Shuyou to visit his future father-in-law and mother-in-law, and also to help with some farm work as a token of appreciation.

He was responsible for showing some courtesy to his parents-in-law, while Ayou was responsible for showing some courtesy to the farm work.

Tan Wenbin: "I'm hungry, I'm hungry, let's eat!"

Lin Shuyou whispered, "Brother Bin, the atmosphere right now doesn't seem suitable for eating."

Tan Wenbin: "Eat your food. Do you want to morally blackmail Brother Yuan and Ah Li into coming down to eat?"

Lin Shuyou sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and lit a thick incense stick for Runsheng and handed 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 asked Aunt Zhang to pass on a message that he was taken to a banquet by the old carpenter at the west end of the village. It's the old carpenter's birthday today, and he only invited close relatives and friends, so it wasn't a big celebration."

After the others finished their dinner, Aunt Liu cleared away the dishes, leaving some food on the stove.

Although it was still early, everyone went back to their houses or their coffins.

Chen Xiyuan sat on the dam, while Li Zhuiyuan and A Li sat upstairs. They sat there until late at night.

On the small table next to Chen Xiyuan, there was a bag of sunflower seeds that Aunt Liu had specially left, telling her that even if she didn't eat first, she could use the sunflower seeds to tide her over.

Chen Xiyuan didn't touch it.

The night wind carried a slight chill.

The boy knew that Ah Li's outburst today was precisely a sign that her condition was further improving.

In the past, Ah Li was afraid of this world. Everyone in this world, except for a very few close friends, was a terrifying figure in her eyes.

In the past, Ah Li's outbursts and loss of control were due to external pressure. When she was stimulated and suppressed to the limit, she would passively lose control.

This time, it was Ah Li who took the initiative.

However, in this new recovery phase, Ah Li has not yet mastered the amount of initiative.

Once the fire in her heart was ignited, it quickly spread like wildfire. If she hadn't been stopped in time by herself and Grandma Liu, she would have completely lost her self-awareness for some time to come.

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

She turned her head and looked at the boy.

The previous coldness did not turn into tears, but the loneliness in the girl's eyes was very clear.

She was anxious.

As a listener to every wave of the teenagers' stories, she is well aware that the teenagers are facing an increasingly difficult situation. Her willingness to take on such a heavy workload is also a manifestation of her urgency in this regard.

She longed to accompany the boy, to walk along the river together, to stand beside him, or, to stand in front of him.

But she failed.

She had previously realized that she was losing control. She knew very well that in this state, facing such a dangerous situation with the boy would not only fail to help him, but would also become a burden to him.

The girl bit her lip, her hands slowly clenching into fists, her nails pointing inwards.

The boy quickly used his hands to pry her hands apart, preventing her nails from digging into her flesh.

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

Li Zhuiyuan put the girl's hands together again, pressing them down with his left palm. He then reached around the back of her head with his other hand and gently pressed her head down, so that their foreheads touched.

"Your existence is my reason for persevering through every wave and returning home."

You have never been a burden to me. Don't be discouraged. You are gradually getting better, and you are recovering faster than me.

You see, you have too many pent-up emotions that you can't control, while I have too few emotions and often don't have enough.

Therefore, the two of us are the best complement to each other in the world.

Sitting on the dam, Chen Xiyuan looked up at the scene on the second floor where her little brother and sister touched forehead to forehead under the moonlight.

For some reason, the corners of my mouth slowly turned up.

She still felt guilty. If she hadn't been so impulsive after waking up and had followed the normal procedure, none of this mess would have happened. She knew she shouldn't be laughing, but more and more sweetness welled up inside her, and the more she tried to suppress it, the more she couldn't hold back her smile.

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

"Knock!"

The night was too quiet, and the sunflower seeds were too crunchy. The sound was a bit loud, making Chen Xiyuan feel quite embarrassed.

But after realizing that the two people on the terrace weren't looking at her, she silently put a sunflower seed in her mouth, moistened it with saliva, and then opened it.

There was no other way; my mouth was too sweet at that moment, so I thought of using something dry and salty to neutralize it.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm hungry."

Ah Li stood up.

Li Zhuiyuan smiled and led A Li, who had fully recovered, downstairs.

Upon seeing this, Chen Xiyuan immediately turned her head, spat out the sunflower seed shells in her mouth with a series of "pui pui pui" sounds, and then stepped forward.

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

Chen Xiyuan shut her mouth.

This time, Ah Li was very calm when facing Chen Xiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's alright. This is your first time visiting our home, so you don't know the situation. It's not your fault. Don't feel guilty or hold it against you."

If Chen Xiyuan were scheming, that would be one thing... but the problem is, she doesn't fit the idiom "scheming" at all.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Please sit down for a while, I'll go and bring out the dinner I left."

Ah Li sat down.

Chen Xiyuan sat opposite her, and this time, she didn't dare to speak.

The poached chicken is still warm, and Aunt Liu has thoughtfully kept the other dishes simmering in the pot.

After the boy brought dinner to the table, Chen Xiyuan kept her mouth closed, but her stomach felt like it was churning out a whole flock of pigeons.

Li Zhuiyuan gave A Li a separate plate and a bunch of small dishes and bowls, and arranged the dishes and rice in an orderly manner according to A Li's eating habits.

After the dishes were arranged, Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the food in front of him with his chopsticks and said to Chen Xiyuan, "Eat."

Chen Xiyuan looked at the boy and pointed to her mouth.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Speak."

Chen Xiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and said to A Li, "Little sister, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have joked with you like that."

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a piece of poached chicken, put it directly into his mouth without dipping it in the sauce, and found it to be tender and delicious.

While Chen Xiyuan was speaking, A Li looked up at her. After Chen Xiyuan finished speaking, she lowered her head and ate her meal in proportion.

But then, Li Zhuiyuan and A Li both stopped using their chopsticks.

Chen Xiyuan untied the jade flute from her waist, placed it in front of A Li, and said with a smile:
"Little sister, nice to meet you. This is a gift from your older sister!"

(End of this chapter)