From Paper Craftsman to World-Suppressing Immortal

"The Japanese devils invaded, killing people indiscriminately and burning down houses. Of the dozens of households in our village, only my mother and I escaped..."

"My husband was killed by them too. We barely managed to escape, and there were dead bodies everywhere along the way! My child cries every day because of it..."

On his way back to Wuliu Town, Zhang Zhixuan's ears were filled with those words. The bloody content that existed in documentaries and textbooks in his past life was now clearly telling him from his experience on the road today that in the not-too-distant future, cruel invasion and war would be staged in reality.

"Damn those Japanese devils..." Zhang Zhixuan's expression was solemn, his brows furrowed, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

After a long journey, Zhang Zhixuan finally arrived in Wuliu Town around noon.

When Zhang Zhixuan returned to the old Zhang family house in the west of the town, a smell of freshly planed wood chips and tung oil suddenly wafted towards him. He stood at the gate of his own courtyard, stunned for several seconds, almost thinking that he had entered the wrong house.

The dilapidated mud walls were rebuilt neatly, and the cracked and old courtyard gate was reframed and replaced with a new door.

The courtyard gate was open, and the tung oil on it hadn't dried completely. Zhang Zhixuan walked into the courtyard and saw that it had been tidied up neatly, with even the weeds pulled out cleanly. There were also unused blue bricks and lime piled up in the corner, indicating that it had just been repaired not long ago.

"Uncle's quick," Zhang Zhixuan muttered, carrying his basket on his back and smiling as he entered the house, just in time to hear Second Master Zhao calculating wages with the bricklayer.

"Three silver dollars in total, not a penny less. Remember, plaster that east wall a little thicker, so it doesn't leak again when it rains!"

"Alright, Second Master Zhao, don't worry, we're absolutely reliable!"

The foreman took the money, carried his tools, and went out, just as he bumped into Zhang Zhixuan who was coming in.

The bricklayer paused for a moment, then nodded and smiled at Zhang Zhixuan. The two greeted each other and passed by.

When Master Zhao saw Zhang Zhixuan, the worry that had been weighing on his mind for the past few days finally subsided, and he was in high spirits. He laughed and said, "Zhixuan, after being gone for so many days, you're finally back."

Zhang Zhixuan also smiled and said, "Uncle, I'm sorry to have worried you. Don't worry, I'm fine, perfectly well."

"It's alright! It's alright!"

As Zhang Zhixuan spoke, he looked up and glanced around the room.

The old house's beams had been replaced, and the leaky roof had been relaid with new tiles.

The previously dry and hard earthen bed in the inner room had been tidied up and was now covered with new reed mats and new quilts. Two new cloth quilts were also neatly folded in the corner, and a copper teapot was placed at the head of the bed.

The kitchen in the outer room underwent the most changes. The stove was dismantled and rebuilt, and the old, rusted cast iron pot was replaced with a new one. Next to it stood a newly purchased large water vat.

The once bare and empty house has been furnished with a lot of new furniture, and the whole house and courtyard are bright and clean, giving Zhang Zhixuan a completely new look.

"Uncle, the house is even better than I expected. Thank you so much for taking care of it."

"Hey, kid, stop being so polite. Alright, you're finally back safe and sound. You must be tired from the long journey. Let your uncle treat you to a good meal and a few drinks!"

"Okay, I'll do as you say, Uncle."

Zhang Zhixuan followed Master Zhao after leaving the Zhang family's old house. The two arrived at a newly opened restaurant called "Fu Man Tian" in Wu Liu Town. As soon as they found an empty seat, a waiter immediately came over, waving a white towel and asking with a smile, "What would you two like to eat?"

Old Master Zhao slammed his melon-shaped hat on the table and, without even waiting for the waiter to announce the dishes, ordered directly: "Bring me your master chef's specialty, 'Lao Bao San' (a type of stir-fried tofu), 'Ba Zhen Tofu' (a type of tofu), braised gluten, a plate of fried river shrimp, a pot of strong liquor, and two large bowls of rice!"

"Alright! Please wait a moment, gentlemen!"

Just as the waiter was about to leave, Zhang Zhixuan immediately added, "Wait a minute, waiter! Give Lao Bao San extra minced garlic, I love it!"

"Okay, don't worry, I'll definitely do as you say!"

The two didn't have to wait long before the dishes ordered by Master Zhao started arriving at the table in a steady stream.

Looking at the delicious-looking food in front of him, Zhang Zhixuan's mouth watered. He immediately started eating without hesitation, as if guided by divine inspiration.

The first dish was Lao Bao San, with pork liver, kidney, and sliced ​​pork cut into even thicknesses, stir-fried to perfection in hot oil, coated in a glistening sauce, and sprinkled with a generous amount of minced garlic. The aroma was irresistible. Zhang Zhixuan picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The liver tips were tender and fresh, and the kidney had no fishy smell at all. It was salty and savory, with a mouthful of garlicky kick. It was simply delicious!

Next up is Eight Treasures Tofu, where tender tofu is pan-fried until golden brown on both sides and topped with shrimp, squid, sea cucumber, dried scallops, shiitake mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, green peas, and carrots, creating a colorful and abundant dish.

The gluten is especially exceptional. The oily gluten is glossy and shiny, with a rich aroma. Zhang Zhixuan picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The texture was soft and chewy, and the more he chewed, the more fragrant it became.

The last dish to arrive was fried river shrimp, each one golden and crispy. You could eat them shell and all, the meat and all, and they were fragrant, fresh, and more flavorful the more you chewed.

"How about it? Isn't the restaurant your uncle chose great? It's newly opened, good quality and inexpensive, and the dishes are quite authentic!" Master Zhao poured Zhang Zhixuan a cup of strong liquor, fried river shrimp to go with it, and he sipped it slowly, smacking his lips to savor the taste.

"When it comes to food, you're the best!" Zhang Zhixuan said with a smile.

Master Zhao laughed heartily and clinked glasses with Zhang Zhixuan.

After a few drinks, Master Zhao took out a key from his pocket and placed it on the table, saying, "After you left, Liu Dongjia from Guihoutang sent a cart to pick up paper offerings. She saw that your house was under renovation and said that if you went to Tianjin and didn't have a place to stay, you could go to her courtyard in the east of the city. That place has always been empty. She will provide you with food and lodging. This key is what Liu Dongjia left for you."

Zhang Zhixuan nodded, picked up the key and looked at it, then asked, "Did Liu Ling say anything else?"

"That's all. Since you weren't home, I had someone haul away the paper work. I told you to settle the payment yourself when you go to Guihoutang. Then I left the keys and went with the convoy."

"Okay, I'll tidy up the house in the next couple of days before I go," Zhang Zhixuan said, putting the keys away.

Master Zhao filled Zhang Zhixuan's cup with wine and asked, "Was the journey there and back safe?"

Zhang Zhixuan sighed and shook his head, saying, "On the way back to Wuliu Town, I encountered a group of refugees who had fled from Fengtian. I asked them, and they said that the Japanese devils had started a war over there, committing all sorts of atrocities, including burning, killing, looting, and pillaging. Many people were dragging their families and running towards the interior of China."

Upon hearing this, Master Zhao paused, his hand holding the wine cup still, and his face immediately turned pale: "They're going to attack?"

"They probably can't reach Tianjin for the time being, but I must remind you, Uncle, the world is getting more and more chaotic. Pay close attention to these kinds of news and rumors from now on. If anything seems amiss, leave immediately without hesitation!" Zhang Zhixuan reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Master Zhao sighed and shook his head repeatedly: "How long have we enjoyed these peaceful days? Is the world about to descend into chaos again? Alas..."

Master Zhao's mood instantly soured, and Zhang Zhixuan also felt uneasy.

But at this moment, Zhang Zhixuan didn't want to spoil his uncle's mood too much. People in Tianjin love to eat, especially when it comes to family and friends at the dinner table, there should be more laughter and joy.

Zhang Zhixuan quickly put on a smiling face: "Uncle, don't think too much about it. Let's just enjoy ourselves today! Forget about everything else!"

Master Zhao was amused by Zhang Zhixuan's words, which dispelled his worries. He then drank and chatted with Zhang Zhixuan, enjoying the food and drink.

When Zhang Zhixuan and Master Zhao returned to the old house, it was already dark. Master Zhao had drunk half a pot of wine and his face was flushed. He fell asleep as soon as he got home, snoring loudly.

Zhang Zhixuan couldn't sleep at this moment. Now that he was finally home and at ease, he had to do something even more important first.

Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep soundly.