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A two-horse carriage was pulling the front, with a huge green watermelon following behind.

"What a huge watermelon!"

The villagers whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with undisguised amazement; they had never seen such a large watermelon in their entire lives.

A maidservant was covering her mouth and whispering among herself.

"How are we supposed to eat such a big watermelon?"

"Of course we'll cut it into pieces and eat it."

"Wouldn't it be a waste to cut it up and eat it?"

"It's so hot, the food will go bad even if we don't eat it."

"I think we can hollow out the melon and use it to make small boats."

Amidst the chaotic laughter and arguing, someone shouted, "The master is here!"

The crowd parted to let Tan Wenjie walk out, followed by several beautiful women, some dressed as married women and others still looking like young girls, each with their own unique charm.

They curiously circled around the giant watermelon.

"Is this the big watermelon that Zhang Dadan sent?" Tan Wenjie raised his hand and tapped the watermelon in front of him.

He had seen large watermelons before, but he had never heard of one this big.

"Master, what about this watermelon?" the butler asked.

Tan Wenjie casually said, "Cut it up, everyone have a taste."

"Oh? Isn't that a bit of a waste?"

"Since it's a watermelon, you can cut it and eat it, so what's the big deal?"

The master's orders are law, and many people even suspect that God has to listen to the master. The subordinates are very enthusiastic, planning how to cut the melon so that they can also have a bite.

In the courtyard of the Tan family mansion, people gathered in three or four circles, watching two strong young men working in the kitchen cut a large watermelon.

A knife.

"Crack!"

The crisp sound of the watermelon rind cracking instantly put everyone's minds at ease.

This melon must be sweet.

Watermelon juice spilled out from the cracks, and as the two young men cut the watermelon, the juice splashed out, quickly forming a puddle on the ground.

Six more people joined in, and they used hemp rope to tie the watermelon together, finally managing to cut it into neat triangular pieces.

Several tables were filled with food.

"Sir, have some melon."

The watermelon was brought to Tan Wenjie.

"Hmm." Tan Wenjie nodded, took the watermelon, looked at it, and then took a bite under everyone's watchful eyes.

The crisp sound reached everyone's ears, and as Tan Wenjie chewed, people kept swallowing their saliva.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Tan Wenjie asked, puzzled. Then he said, "Eat up, everyone, the melon is very sweet."

Upon hearing this, no one dared to move. They waited patiently for Caiyi and the lady to finish eating the watermelon, and then waited for the others to follow, from the steward of the Tan family to the steward, and finally to the servants and maids.

The watermelon was large and sweet, but otherwise unremarkable. Tan Wenjie only ate one slice before losing interest. What truly interested him was how such a large watermelon was produced.

After eating the watermelon, Tan Wenjie asked, "Ladies, would you like to go to Shanghai?"

"Okay!" *N
At such a critical moment, it doesn't matter who goes, but it's dangerous who doesn't go.

A large group of women, including sisters-in-law, wives, and concubines, followed Tan Wenjie to Shanghai. They were accompanied by maids and servants. The group, along with their luggage, filled ten large carts.

Tan Wenjie: "..."

It's comparable to moving house.

Some even brought their entire families.

Seeing the well-prepared ladies, Tan Wenjie could only say, "We're only going for a few days this time, so let's keep things simple and not take so much luggage. Besides, I have property in Shanghai, and there are people looking after it."

Hearing him say this, everyone nodded and dismissed the maids and their luggage.

……

Bustling traffic in Shanghai.

The tram seems to divide the flow of people to the left and right.

Tan Wenjie rested his head on Shen Yu's lap the whole way, eating fruit, and swayed unsteadily until he arrived at his destination.

"We've arrived in Shanghai already?" Shen Yu lifted the curtain, looking at the scenery outside, still somewhat incredulous.

She felt that the carriage had just left Tanjia Town, and after a swaying and bumping ride, the road was flat and there was no bumps at all. When it stopped again, it was already in Shanghai, thousands of miles away. The total time taken was definitely no more than three hours.

The car stopped in front of a small villa.

Shen Yu followed Tan Wenjie out of the carriage, and looking at the other ladies and young women getting out of the carriages, she seemed to be used to it.

Recalling the rumors that her master was a deity, Shen Yu was certain that he must be a deity.

The servants who had been waiting there came out to greet them, carrying their luggage inside, and at the same time, they arranged for maids to serve them temporarily according to the preferences of each lady and young lady.

"I'm going to see Zhang Dadan," Tan Wenjie said. "I'll be back for dinner tonight."

He took two steps and then stopped, looking at Shen Yu who was standing blankly at the door.

"Aren't you coming over here right now?"

"coming."

Shanghai, known as the "Paris of the East," rapidly Westernized due to its concessions, boasting banks, trading companies, theaters, dance halls, and more, earning it the nickname "the Bund."

When Tan Wenjie arrived at the address given in Zhang Dadan's letter, he happened to run into guests at the other party's home.

"Boss Tan, you've arrived!" Zhang Dadan was overjoyed to see Tan Wenjie. "Please have a seat. I have some friends from the martial arts world with me."

It had been a long time since I'd seen Zhang Dadan. He was no longer the poor rickshaw puller who used to look like Zhu Dachang. His face was oily and he had a big belly.

He entered the "Ragged Clothes and Stomping the Ground" sect, never touching money in his life, yet his wealth flowed in endlessly.

The man chatting with Zhang Dadan was a middle-aged man with a simple and gentle, earthy air about him. His eyes were reserved, and he must have been a martial arts expert.

Standing beside him was a little girl of about five or six years old, who remained silent but secretly glanced at Tan Wenjie with curious eyes.

Tan Wenjie then remembered that Zhang Dadan seemed to hold a position in the martial arts world because of his large business and good kung fu skills.

When a person is capable enough, various titles and honors will come to them unbidden.

"My name is Gong Yutian," the other party greeted with a fist and palm salute.

“Boss Tan isn’t from the martial arts world,” Zhang Dadan interrupted with a laugh. “He’s a businessman, a big businessman!”

“I’m just content with a modest life.” Tan Wenjie shook his head. “I have no great ambitions. It’s all money passed down from my ancestors. I haven’t made much money. I’m not interested in money.”

They glanced at the huge jade thumb ring on Tan Wenjie's finger, then at his satin clothes and the stunningly beautiful woman beside him.

Zhang Dadan and Gong Yutian: "..."

"President Zhang, we'll take our leave now," Gong Yutian said. "Since you have a friend visiting, we'll come back another day."

"Okay." Zhang Dadan didn't insist and nodded, letting the other person leave.

After they left, Zhang Dadan poured tea for Tan Wenjie with a smile.

When someone from his hometown came, who was also his "benefactor," he felt incredibly warm and welcoming.

"Is this the new wife?" Zhang Dadan asked.

Shen Yu blushed deeply when asked the question, as she hadn't yet earned the status of a wife while following Tan Wenjie.

"Who were those two men just now...?" Tan Wenjie avoided answering the question.

“In the martial arts world, Baguazhang.” Zhang Dadan gestured a couple of times, then sat down, picked up his teacup, and drank the tea that Gong Yutian had just been sitting in one gulp. “That’s how they are when they practice martial arts. They’re all about appearances and substance, risking their lives for it.”

"Everyone has different pursuits." Tan Wenjie declined to comment, as he had long since left the world of martial arts.

“You must be looking for me because of that big watermelon,” Zhang Dadan said, revealing the purpose of Tan Wenjie’s trip.

Tan Wenjie nodded slightly.

“Actually, I discovered it by accident. It seems to be from a small water town nearby, where there’s a family selling extra-large fruits and vegetables, each one as big as a horse-drawn carriage,” Zhang Dadan said. “Knowing you’d be interested, I bought one for you. I’ve already found out where that family lives.” Tan Wenjie was taken aback by Zhang Dadan’s sudden thoughtfulness.

Tan Wenjie tentatively asked, "Lend me money?"

Zhang Dadan, with a clear conscience, patted his chest and retorted, "What use is money to me when I'm dressed in rags and stomping on the ground?"

If it's free, the problem must be huge.

"Just say it."

Am I destined to have a son?

"Fortune-telling?"

"Yes."

"You should have said so earlier."

"Does it exist or not?" Zhang Dadan pressed.

He's not young anymore. In his early years, his wife cheated on him. Later, he joined a poor family and was so poor that he could only afford patched-up silk clothes. After successfully achieving his current affluent life through various tricks, he started thinking about having children.

Zhang Dadan also knew that Tan Wenjie had connections with the Zhuge family, and that one of his wives was a disciple of the Zhuge family.

“I didn’t have one before,” Tan Wenjie admitted. “But I can arrange a son for you.”

"real or fake?"

"Not only can you choose the gender of your child, but you can also choose their race. Do you prefer white hair or black people?"

"Damn it, of course it's my own flesh and blood!"

"Alright." Tan Wenjie flipped his hand, took out Zhang Dadan's Book of Life and Death, and casually drew a couple of lines on it. "I'll just add a little bit to your lifespan as a bonus."

Zhang Dadan rubbed his eyes. He wasn't highly educated, but he had learned a lot of words over the years and could even speak a few words of foreign languages.

"No way, the Book of Life and Death?"

A country boy who had parted ways with me a few years ago learned some Taoist arts and made a name for himself in the supernatural world. When we met again, he claimed that he had taken control of the Book of Life and Death and could change my fate at will.

It wasn't that Zhang Dadan was suspicious; rather, he genuinely found it hard to believe.

But watching the Book of Life and Death appear and disappear in Tan Wenjie's hands was a truly miraculous sight.

Furthermore, after Tan Wenjie said that his lifespan had been extended, Zhang Dadan actually felt much lighter and more comfortable. Could this mean that his lifespan was coming to an end and that what he had just experienced was a temporary extension of his life? Thinking of this, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Before I knew it, I had completely come to believe that Tan Wenjie could extend my lifespan.

"Yes," Tan Wenjie nodded, "Do you want to know what you'll be reincarnated as in your next life?"

Zhang Dadan immediately shook his head: "Thank you, but no need!"

Tan Wenjie put away the Book of Life and Death: "At most you'll have a son next year. If you have any trouble in the future, contact me anytime, but I may not have time."

Then what are you even saying?!

When we left Zhang Dadan's house, it was already dark outside, and neon lights illuminated the bustling night of Shanghai.

"boom!"

There were gunshots.

Shen Yu was startled.

Tan Wenjie, however, calmly looked in the direction from which the gunshots came.

"Don't worry, it's a revenge killing." He stroked his chin and frowned as he said, "Because that kid spat on someone's shoe and then got his head blown off. Ugh, everyone says not to spit on the ground."

Then we should be even more worried!
These city folks are always killing each other and never stay still. Shen Yu actually misses the quiet rural life at the Tan family mansion, where at least he doesn't have to worry about getting shot in the head for spitting.

She trusted Tan Wenjie's words completely, and during her time at the Tan residence, she saw people flying in the sky every day.

What's so great about being an empress? She wants to be a goddess.

Gods shouldn't be afraid of bullets, right?

"Hey, someone's actually selling wontons!" Tan Wenjie exclaimed in surprise, pointing in the direction of the gunshot. "Let's go get a bowl."

Shen Yu remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

She followed Tan Wenjie, trembling, toward the wonton stall.

The shop owner was preparing to close up shop because of the gunshot, and he didn't want to do business anymore when he saw customers coming, but a silver coin slowed him down.

"Two bowls of wontons, keep the change."

"Okay, right away."

Is a gunshot more important than doing business?

A bullet hit might not kill you, but losing that one silver dollar and your whole family going hungry would be the real problem.

Tan Wenjie took a low stool and placed it under his bottom, then tapped the table lightly with his fingers. A moment later, a big and a small figure came running towards them in a disheveled state.

Just as the other person was about to pass by, they saw Tan Wenjie, their eyes flashing with surprise, and they immediately jogged over.

"Mr. Gong, what a coincidence, you're eating wontons too?"

It was Gong Yutian and his daughter, whom they had met at Zhang Dadan's place before.

Judging from the direction they fled, they were probably going to find Zhang Dadan.

According to the Book of Life and Death, Zhang Dadan's lifespan ended in half a month, when he died from severe injuries that were difficult to cure.

"Mr. Tan, to be honest, I've run into some trouble." Gong Yutian said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "I just took my daughter to the Jingwu School to pay respects to the late Mr. Huo, but we encountered Japanese people killing people. Alas."

"So you still have the appetite to eat wontons?"

Gong Yutian said, "I would like to ask Mr. Tan to take care of my daughter for the time being, while I go and draw the pursuers away!"

After saying that, she ignored Tan Wenjie, turned around and ran away, leaving Tan Wenjie and the quiet little girl face to face.

"Would you like some wontons?" Tan Wenjie asked.

The owner of the wonton stall next door was already so frightened that he was about to cry. Those were people being hunted by the Japanese. How could he possibly have several heads to catch bullets while eating at his wonton stall?

"Keep the change." Shen Yu handed over the silver coins upon seeing this.

Seeing how confident Tan Wenjie was, she was certain that he was not afraid of bullets, and even if he couldn't beat the Japanese army, he certainly wouldn't be afraid of those bastards in the concession.

"The wontons are coming right away!" the wonton stall owner shouted.

How could he let ambitious people go without wontons?

The little girl remained silent.

"A mute?" Tan Wenjie asked in surprise, gesturing in front of the other person's eyes, "Can you see how many fingers these are?"

“I can talk,” the little girl said. “And a mute person is someone who can’t speak, not someone who can’t see.”

Tan Wenjie asked, "Hmm, could it be that your father left you here as bait and then ran away?"

Little girl: "..."

Staring at each other x2
Tan Wenjie asked again, "What's your name?"

"Gong Ruomei." The voice was clear and crisp.

"Wontons are here!" The stall owner interrupted the conversation between the adult and the child.

Tan Wenjie took the wonton and ate it in big bites.

A group of Japanese people rushed over at this moment, and immediately rushed over when they saw the wonton stall where Tan Wenjie and others were.

After sizing up Tan Wenjie a few times, the leader asked in a calm tone, "Have you seen a man leading a child?"

"It looks like they ran that way," Tan Wenjie said casually.

"Thank you." The leading man nodded, then quickly left with his men.

The stall owner breathed a sigh of relief, his body covered in sweat from surviving the ordeal.

Gong Ruomei looked at Tan Wenjie with a puzzled expression: "Why do they listen to you?"

"Because my words carry weight."

They were no longer on the same level of existence. The weak instinctively fear the strong, especially when the other side was the race most adept at fawning over the powerful on this planet. (End of Chapter)