Chapter 327

Looking at this line of text, it was as if he could see Yin Meng standing before him, stamping her foot and rolling her eyes in anger.

He could almost hear the Sichuan dialect that Yin Meng naturally spoke whenever she got emotional, her voice rising and stretching at the end of her sentences.

Normally, it would have been preceded by a friendly, even affectionate, term like 'guawazi,' 'ha'er,' or 'baopilong' (local endearing/insulting terms). Run Sheng felt the reason they weren't included was that Yin Meng hadn't immediately thought of how to put those dialect words into writing, or perhaps just maintaining this 'interaction' itself had already taken all her strength, much like when she struggled to maintain her 'spirit walking' state.

Nevertheless, Run Sheng really liked how his solitary memories transformed into an interaction between them. Even if it was just this one sentence, it felt completely different. Besides, this was the only time of day he really used his brain. One sentence was enough. Any more, and his brain might not be able to process it. And the other side probably couldn't write any more either.

The wind blew again, erasing the marks on the ground. It was as if nothing had ever appeared, the divide between Yin and Yang still distinct.

Run Sheng used the shovel to bury the ashes. Her message was not to burn any more clothes; it was too wasteful of money. Run Sheng decided to listen to her. But next time he contacted her, he'd still have to burn something. Setting aside the prerequisite of an offering, he at least needed to show his sincerity.

At this moment, Run Sheng thought of a method. He realized, paper effigies, were truly a great invention. Run Sheng himself was quite skilled at it. When he didn't have major work, he would often sit there making paper effigies while watching TV. Run Sheng planned to personally make some more paper effigies and burn them for Yin Meng in the underworld.

Shaking the dirt off his shovel, Run Sheng finally understood why so many boys and girls would come to the university store to buy colorful square paper when he used to work there. Lu Yi had told him that these were bought specifically to be folded into stars, collected in a jar, and given to someone they liked.

It turned out, these folded stars were also another form of paper effigy.

"Run Sheng!"

Tan Wenbin walked over, leading Lin Shuyou.

Run Sheng emerged from the riverside woods, shouldering his Yellow River shovel.

Lin Shuyou: "Run Sheng, what are you doing here by yourself?"

Without waiting for Ah You to get an answer, Tan Wenbin pointed towards Old Hu's house and said, "Come on, let's go chop some trees."

Li Sanjiang was asleep. Their nighttime project could now begin. Actually, they only needed to keep it a secret from Li Sanjiang among the whole family. They didn't even need to avoid Xiao Hei.

On the first floor of Old Hu's house, Xiao Yingying was sleeping, holding Benben. Benben, practically since birth, had been taken by his parents on 'river journeys.' Visiting so many places of Yin energy, if not directly corrupted, he had at least grown accustomed to them. As a result, the child preferred cold, Yin energy and disliked dryness and heat. This summer, which should have been unbearable and uncomfortable for him, was made pleasant by the corpse lying beside him. The constant overflow of cold energy felt like the most refreshing and comfortable evening breeze on a summer night to Benben. Benben also liked to sleep with his little hand clutching a strand of Xiao Yingying's hair. The hair was damp and slippery, feeling very comfortable in his grasp.

This should have been a quiet and cozy scene, but upstairs...

"Squeak... squeak... squeak... squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak!"

In the past, the descendants born within a Dragon King sect were enough to make martial artists feel out of their league. Now, the couple's lives were settled, their blessings stable, and both Dragon King sects were in a phase of sparse population. If not now, when would be a better time to procreate? Their goals weren't lofty, nor did they wish for more. They diligently 'cultivated' and hurried to conceive, aiming to first fill the ecological niche of children born into the Dragon King sects. However, despite both being perfectly healthy, with abundant 'seeds' and fertile, deep 'soil,' they had been trying for so long without successfully conceiving another child.

After the herb garden initially took shape, Xiong Shan shamelessly went to Old Tian for help in concocting some medicine. Old Tian, being kind-hearted, genuinely helped him with the concoction. Though Old Tian knew it was highly unlikely they'd have a second child. This situation was just like the predicament of Third Master and Third Madam when the young master was little. Old Tian still remembered secretly standing outside the door back then, sensing the murderous aura Third Master and Third Madam directed at the young master. At that time, Old Tian had already secretly resolved that if Third Master and Third Madam dared to lay a hand on the young master, he would rush in to protect him, even if it cost him his life. At worst, he'd carry the young master and flee the Zhao family, becoming a fugitive.

To have children thrive was already a great blessing from heaven; to desire more when already overflowing was unrealistic. However, these words were best kept to himself and truly inconvenient to say to the individuals concerned. Moreover, perhaps the individuals themselves somewhat understood but still refused to give up.

"What's that sound?" Lin Shuyou walked outside Old Hu's house and looked up, a little puzzled.

Tan Wenbin: "The Symphony of Fate."

Although Brother Xiaoyuan said they could chop indiscriminately, Tan Wenbin still chose the outer edges of the peach grove, and to avoid cutting too abruptly, he tried to ensure all sides were attended to, making the cuts appear more even. After cutting enough timber as required by the design plans, the three men carried it home on their shoulders. Run Sheng carried the most, piled high, yet his steps remained steady. Lin Shuyou carried slightly less than Run Sheng due to his shorter arm span. With not much material left, Tan Wenbin had an easier time.

After the timber was delivered, they would go to the large truck to collect more materials. Li Zhuiyuan, meanwhile, was setting up simple illusions and isolation arrays in the rice paddies. He certainly wouldn't finish tonight, so to ensure Grandfather wouldn't notice anything when he got up to urinate tomorrow morning, these concealments had to be prepared in advance. Henceforth, unless one ventured deep into the rice paddies, no changes would be discernible from the outside. Normally, no one in the village would run deep into another family's fields. Uncle Qin and Xiong Shan might come, but they would sense the anomaly here and know who was responsible.

A-Li busied herself alongside Li Zhuiyuan. The girl loved the feeling of working with the young man, as if this field were her new collectible. Their cooperation was seamless. Li Zhuiyuan indicated the positions, and A-Li, with a small shovel, dug holes for the array flags. As she backfilled, the shovel would lightly touch the flags, performing a check at the same time.

As more and more materials were moved, and while Run Sheng continued to transport the remainder, Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou had already joined in the construction of the dojo. One exerted the power of the Blood Ape, the other activated his vertical pupils. This posture was comparable to the urgency and seriousness they displayed when facing formidable enemies in the past. This left Li Zhuiyuan, who had already set up the arrays, as the most useless person on site. Staying there not only wouldn't contribute much efficiency but also risked being accidentally hit by the other two. Therefore, the young man simply took the girl's hand and walked out, sitting on the workshop's roof to oversee from above and check for any oversights or deficiencies.

Once Run Sheng had moved everything over and joined them, the scene before their eyes had the instantaneous feeling of a movie on fast-forward. Most of the foundational work was quickly completed, leaving individual slots according to the blueprints. What Li Zhuiyuan wanted was a high-standard dojo, so he could 'solve it once and for all' as much as possible, saving himself the trouble of future renovations. And sometimes, the method to raise standards could be very simple and unpretentious.

Liu Yumei lay on her bed inside the house, fanning herself with a cattail fan. Listening to the commotion from the fields outside, a smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of her mouth. If that old man knew how capable these 'mules' of hers were, he probably wouldn't bother with funeral services anymore. It would be much better to just switch professions and form a construction team; that's where the real money was.

A moment later, the smile on Liu Yumei's face gradually faded, replaced by a look of helplessness. If only Xiaoyuan's lamp hadn't spontaneously ignited that day, giving her a little more time to prepare, to get everything properly matched, cut, and bound by life contracts... Her own Xiaoyuan, why would he need to personally build his training room and dojo? Sigh, it was truly frustrating. She was practically guarding a vault full of gold but couldn't spend any of it.

"Creak..."

The door was pushed open; it was A-Li coming in. Liu Yumei stopped fanning herself, pretending to be fast asleep. A-Li walked to the altar, took down several ancestral tablets, and went out. The door was left open. A while later, A-Li came in again, this time carrying a basket. She put the ancestral tablets from the altar into the basket, then carried the heavy, full basket out. The door was still left open.

A moment later, a 'rumbling' sound came from outside. A-Li was holding a rope, the other end of which was tied to a board with four wheels underneath—a simple handcart. The ancestral tablets from the bottom two rows had just been taken. The girl stood on a chair and began to take those from higher up. After taking them down, she neatly stacked them on the handcart, repeating the process. Finally, she even climbed directly onto the altar and cleared the top few rows as well. There were too many tablets, and they were too heavy. When the handcart was pulled, it didn't 'rumble' but 'buzzed,' sounding a bit overwhelmed.

Liu Yumei, lying on the bed, turned her head to look at the doorway. The door was still left open. But the altar was completely empty, as if sold out. "Not bad, you actually helped quite a bit. You all contributed to our Xiaoyuan's dojo."

A-Li came in again. This time, she didn't stop at the altar but went straight into the bedroom. Liu Yumei paused, thinking: *She's not going to put me in there as part of the foundation, is she?* The girl stood by the bed, looking at her 'Grandma Sister' who lay before her, feigning sleep. Her Grandma Sister, a little flustered after all, couldn't keep up the act and opened her eyes. The girl turned and pointed to the empty altar.

Liu Yumei: "Oh, the ancestors have gone out for a stroll. It's fine, they'll come back by themselves first thing tomorrow morning."

The girl shook her head. The construction schedule was tight. Liu Yumei sat up and said, "You go wait outside for a bit. Grandma will go call the ancestors back now." A-Li nodded and turned to leave the room. Liu Yumei put on a piece of clothing, got up, and walked out of the east room.

In the west room.

Uncle Qin was soaking his feet. The water in the wooden tub was half white, half black, with hot stones continuously bubbling within. Whether it was his early martial arts training, his later 'river journeys,' or his participation in special projects at the old lady's command, Uncle Qin had accumulated many hidden injuries. Aunt Liu would often administer treatments for him. For this, Aunt Liu would often tease him: "Look at Run Sheng, then look at you." Uncle Qin could only reply: "When I was young, I was just as reckless."

Of course, Uncle Qin also knew deep down that the path Run Sheng was now on had far exceeded his imagination. Although their absolute strengths couldn't yet be measured on the same scale, Run Sheng's future development, as it stood, had already broken through Uncle Qin's limitations. This was simply a matter of timing and destiny. Aside from Run Sheng's unique physique, a Xiaoyuan stood before him, a privilege Uncle Qin didn't have when he embarked on his 'river journeys' alone.

However, Uncle Qin wouldn't dwell on this too much. Firstly, it was the Qin family tradition to embark on 'river journeys' alone, facing the fierce river waves by oneself to achieve mastery of the 'Qin Clan's Dragon-Observing Technique'. Secondly, dwelling on it would be unfair to the old lady who had personally raised him and treated him as her own son. Ultimately, it was his own lack of capability that he hadn't been able to support the Qin and Liu families during their most perilous times.

Aunt Liu picked up a black centipede and placed it on Uncle Qin's neck. Uncle Qin reached up and held it. The black centipede opened its mouthparts, bit Uncle Qin's neck, and began sucking out strands of stagnant Qi.

Uncle Qin: "It's quite lively outside."

Aunt Liu: "What, itching to join in?"

Uncle Qin: "This should have been my task."

Aunt Liu: "It's alright, they can manage it themselves. Isn't it inconvenient for us to interfere?"

Uncle Qin: "Sigh, it just feels a bit unsettling to be unable to help when help is needed."

Aunt Liu: "Once Xiaoyuan finishes his 'river journey' and the Qin and Liu families produce another Dragon King, all those old scores will have to be settled. The old lady has kept meticulous records of everything."

"Knock knock knock..."

A knocking sound rang out. Both immediately knew it was the old lady. Because in this house, only the old lady's footsteps were undetectable to them.

Aunt Liu opened the door.

Liu Yumei: "Go, restock."

Aunt Liu: "Now?"

Liu Yumei: "They're waiting anxiously over there."

Aunt Liu: "I'm going now."

In the past, A-Li would occasionally take one or two ancestral tablets for use. And if tablets were missing from the altar, it looked very unseemly. So, over time, Aunt Liu's room always kept two sets of ancestral tablets as spares. Aunt Liu went out to display the 'goods'. Liu Yumei walked into the room. Uncle Qin stood up, intending to put on his shoes.

"Sit down, keep soaking."

"Yes, Matriarch."

Liu Yumei looked Uncle Qin up and down and said, "My child, you've had a hard time all these years. Both inside and outside the house, we've relied on you to run things and hold them up."

"Matriarch, it's because of my dull abilities..."

"A-Ting is right, I remember all those debts. I originally thought the best outcome for this life would be to quietly live out my days with my A-Li, with no chance to avenge those grudges. Now... hehe. That ancestor of my Liu family, Liu Qingcheng, had a mixed reputation. But at least he lived with martial spirit. Prioritizing the big picture, prioritizing the big picture... My Qin and Liu families have sacrificed enough for the big picture. The wheel of fortune turns, soon, it will be our turn for retribution and satisfaction. A-Li, you take good care of your health."

"As you command!"

Liu Yumei walked out of the west room onto the courtyard. She looked up; the moon was bright and the stars sparse that night. Aunt Liu had just finished setting out a fresh set of ancestral tablets. Then, the sound of the small handcart came from below the courtyard – her own granddaughter was coming to 'resupply' again. Watching A-Li in her red dress pulling the little handcart, Liu Yumei couldn't help but let her lips curl upwards in a smile. If she weren't truly old now, with her body not as robust as in her youth, she would have rushed out to experience pulling the handcart with her granddaughter, even if it meant suffering the backlash.

Again, the 'rumbling' approached, then the 'buzzing' departed. After one handcart was pulled away, the altar in the east room became empty once more. Aunt Liu, quick-handed, put up the third set. After doing all this, Aunt Liu said to Liu Yumei with some concern: "There are only three sets. If they take any more, there won't be any left."

"They should need exactly three sets."

"But Xiaoyuan doesn't usually come into the east room, much less the storeroom. How would he know..."

"If A-Li knows, then Xiaoyuan knows."

Aunt Liu: "Look, your granddaughter truly favors outsiders."

Liu Yumei: "Xiaoyuan is the sole contemporary heir of both the Qin and Liu families. Legally, everything in the household belongs to him. Our A-Li is merely moving her own family's possessions to a different place. How is that favoring outsiders?"

Aunt Liu: "Yes, yes, yes, you're right. You're always right."

Liu Yumei reached out, pinched Aunt Liu's face, and tugged it outwards. Aunt Liu was about to cry out in pain but then saw a serious look in the old lady's eyes and quieted down.

"A-Li has many hidden injuries, and A-Ting, you're getting older too. This pinch really doesn't have the youthful spring it once did."

"I'm trying to find ways to please you, and here you are, specifically trying to pierce my heart."

"Heh heh, your mouth, in the past, would probably have gotten you locked up in the Liu family's disciplinary hall, never to come out."

"I don't believe it. Miss Liu will surely protect me."

Liu Yumei released her hand, then gently stroked Aunt Liu's face with the back of her hand. "I can't sleep tonight. Make me a pot of tea."

"Brew the tea your little sister-friend brought back? I saw you really enjoying it during the day."

"Asking for a beating!"

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Tan Wenbin sat on the ground, panting. After a difficult swallow, he took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and then coughed. A sudden fight was far less tiring than a sudden burst of work. Because the outcome of a fight was quick—either you knocked the opponent down or got knocked down yourself—but with work, you had to keep grinding, with even fewer opportunities to catch your breath than in a fight.

Lin Shuyou, sitting beside Tan Wenbin, moistened his chapped lips and reached out, wanting to take the cigarette from Tan Wenbin's mouth for a puff himself. But his hand was slapped away by Tan Wenbin, and he even got a light rap on the head.

Run Sheng stood there, covered in sweat. He had the best stamina and didn't feel tired; instead, he felt a surge of excitement.

Lin Shuyou: "Is the Qin Clan's Dragon-Observing Technique that magical? Why does Run Sheng seem so energetic tonight?"

Tan Wenbin: "Normal."

Lin Shuyou: "Normal?"

Tan Wenbin: "Weren't you very energetic after your date with Chen Lin?"

Lin Shuyou: "No way."

Tan Wenbin: "Brother Xiaoyuan's and my dorm room is at the very top, directly facing the bathroom sink. Who was it that specifically ran to take two cold showers in the middle of the night that evening?"

Lin Shuyou: "It was too hot in the dorm; I couldn't sleep..."

Tan Wenbin: "I believe you."

The three strong laborers finished their work for the night and stood by, watching. Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li walked on the foundation. The young man placed ancestral tablets into the grooves, and for each one he placed, A-Li handed him another. Their cooperation was seamless. After placing half of them, Li Zhuiyuan stopped and opened two cans of Jianlibao (a soft drink), one for himself and one for the girl. The two prepared to rest for a bit.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Run Sheng, Brother Binbin, tonight's work is done. You should go rest too."

Run Sheng: "Okay."

They needed rest; they'd have to continue working tomorrow night. No one was being fussy; they all got up and left. Seeing Tan Wenbin swaying slightly as he walked, Lin Shuyou asked with concern: "Brother Bin, Zhou Yunyun will be here to see you tomorrow morning."

"What about it?"

"I'm afraid you'll be too tired to get up."

"You don't look much better than me."

"I can sleep in a coffin until I naturally wake up."

"Heh heh, Chen Lin is here too, but she deliberately told us not to tell you; she wants to surprise you."

Lin Shuyou: "..."

The two walked to the courtyard and saw Run Sheng, who had returned earlier, sitting on a tricycle parked at the courtyard steps.

Tan Wenbin: "Run Sheng, going out this late?"

Run Sheng: "Yeah, to eat."

Tan Wenbin: "Is it very delicious?"

Run Sheng: "Delicious."

Tan Wenbin: "Only you can eat it?"

Run Sheng: "There's some for you too."

Tan Wenbin: "I'm hungry."

With that, Tan Wenbin got straight onto the tricycle and lay down. "Wake me up when we get there. Ouch..."

Lin Shuyou also squeezed in and lay down. "Wake me up too!"

Run Sheng released the handbrake, and the tricycle rolled down the steps.

By the river, the moonlight was intense, and all was silent. A rapid flapping sound broke the current stillness. A large rat, with a white skirt tied around its waist, was pedaling furiously with its hind legs, its tail rapidly spinning and swishing. One might have thought it was someone's small motorboat navigating the river at night. The large white rat was pushing a coffin in front of it. Inside the coffin were various collected incense offerings and ingredients, as well as pots, pans, and all sorts of seasonings.

"How long has it been peaceful? And they're back again. They're addicted to eating, aren't they! Either don't come at all, or come at a fixed time. Coming whenever the mood strikes, always on call – what kind of arrangement is this?"

Previously, the large white rat would set up its stall whenever it felt like it, traveling between rural ancestral halls and temples, collecting offerings when it pleased, cooking a meal when it pleased, and finally deciding who to feed it to when it pleased. Its life back then was truly carefree and leisurely. It truly regretted not being braver that night. When she told it to come cook wontons, it just came. What should have been a pleasant event for both host and guest had become its nightmare.

That day, it was leisurely nestled in a haystack, humming a tune and tossing dried fruit into its mouth, when a cold, white-clad figure suddenly appeared before it. Without a word, the figure then picked it up by its tail and headed east. It cried and pleaded for mercy, but the other party was unmoved. Only when it said it hadn't brought its cooking utensils did the other party immediately turn around with it. It thought the other party was taking it to Shanghai. It figured, if it's going, it's going. Experiencing the bustling prosperity of great Shanghai wouldn't be a loss; it could consider it a worldly tribulation. Who knew that the person carrying it would just brush past the edge of Shanghai, then, with a 'plop,' toss it into the river. Shanghai was right there, but it was in Nantong—a place where talents struggled. Its leisurely life was over, so it resigned itself to punching in and out for work. But even that became a luxury, transforming into being on standby at all times.

"How am I supposed to prepare these dishes? How do I mix these ingredients? And how can master stock just be made on demand? Why don't you just throw me in and roll me around?" Filled with resentment, it arrived at the riverbank. "One, two, three..."

"Oh my goodness, more people!"

Lin Shuyou saw a large white rat come ashore. In his tired eyes, his vertical pupils opened once more.

"Thump!"

The large white rat, which had just been full of complaints, was so frightened by this oppressive aura that it immediately prostrated itself face down on the ground.

The voice of the White Crane Immortal Boy came through Lin Shuyou's mouth: "I am here. Serve diligently. Dare to neglect, humph!"

The White Crane Immortal Boy was once a Yin God, also receiving incense offerings, so he was naturally familiar with these sacrificial rats that wandered between ancestral halls and temples. In the early years of war and chaos, sacrificial rats were incredibly numerous. Now that there was peace and prosperity, they were rare. Primarily, it was during difficult times that people were more inclined to seek protection from spirits and deities. Now, while offerings and incense were increasingly abundant, people's sincerity was waning.

The vertical pupils closed.

Lin Shuyou asked with some concern, "Can we eat food made by a rat?" Run Sheng seemed to be a regular, but Run Sheng was someone who could even gnaw on zombies like beef jerky; it was too difficult to imagine him getting an upset stomach.

Tan Wenbin was already looking expectant and said, "Didn't the Immortal Boy just say it's fine? It's edible."

The startled large white rat began to cook. Soon, dishes were brought out one by one. Lin Shuyou tasted it with his chopsticks: "Mm, delicious! Sigh, I should have known to bring Brother Xiaoyuan along."

Tan Wenbin: "Brother Xiaoyuan doesn't like fuss; he probably wouldn't enjoy this kind of scene."

The large white rat, with its breathing flared and a smile on its face, was simultaneously cursing wildly in its heart, yet kept the pan in its hand perfectly steady. But as it fried, the large white rat suddenly noticed the fur on its wrist was gone. Actually, there had been signs of shedding there before, which it had attributed to poor adaptation or getting singed by the fire while cooking. But now, the bald patch was larger, and touching it, there was a cool, smooth sensation. The large white rat looked at all this in disbelief. It realized this was a sign of accumulated merit. The rat's entire worldview was shattered in that moment.

In the past, in the countryside, making a simple fried rice for some spirited children or a soup for esteemed village elders would accumulate merit over time, but it was like a drizzle, not even enough to wet its fur. Yet, after only cooking a few meals for these people, it was actually shedding fur! It had thought its life would simply pass by with no real prospects, but now, human transformation was within reach!

What was that it just heard? That there was an 'elder brother' from the other side who hadn't arrived yet? The large white rat immediately spoke: "That's easy. Allow this little rat to wear clothes, put on gloves, and tuck its tail in tomorrow night. I guarantee that person won't find it repulsive!"

Tan Wenbin heard this and remained noncommittal.

Lin Shuyou: "Now I think watching you cook is quite entertaining."

The large white rat scooped out the dish from the pot and said, "As the saying goes, no feast is complete without fish. Please wait a moment, I'll go get some right away!"

Lin Shuyou: "Why didn't you bring it earlier?"

The large white rat: "There were too many ingredients; one coffin couldn't hold them all. Besides, if these things are left on shore for too long, they won't be fresh."

Having said that, the large white rat turned and jumped into the river. Before long, the large white rat surfaced, clutching two fish in its paws, one in its mouth, and another coiled around its tail. Indeed, they were fresh, caught on the spot.

Tan Wenbin pointed at the fish on the large white rat's tail and said, "Release that one."

The large white rat asked, puzzled: "But it's the freshest!"

Tan Wenbin: "But it's a protected species."

In the early morning, Run Sheng went down to the fields with Uncle Qin. Zhou Yunyun and Chen Lin rode bicycles along the village road. These female university students, studying in the city, added two touches of fresh beauty to the rural landscape. Upon reaching the courtyard, Zhou Yunyun greeted Liu Yumei and Aunt Liu very generously. Chen Lin appeared much more reserved, especially when looking at Liu Yumei, her gaze would always shift to the small pit in the courtyard that Zhao Yi had personally knelt in but had not yet been filled.

The two girls entered the hall, where Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou were still sound asleep in their coffins. They had been tired from last night, then enjoyed a delicious meal, and also drank the yellow wine provided by the large white rat, naturally leading to a good night's sleep. Chen Lin didn't find sleeping in a coffin particularly unusual; many Yin-Yang Masters made tombs their residences. Zhou Yunyun, on the other hand, had long since been educated by Tan Wenbin about the ten great advantages of sleeping in a coffin. Whatever he said, she was willing to believe, even if it was absurd.

Unwilling to disturb their deep sleep, Zhou Yunyun and Chen Lin walked out.

"Grandma Liu, thank you for the clothes you gave me. I really like them."

"Glad you like them."

Chen Lin, who was following behind, was about to bow in traditional etiquette but was stopped by a glance from the old lady. The old lady was a stickler for rules. Someone like Zhou Yunyun, in the past, would have been considered a prospective daughter-in-law, with all the formalities completed, just waiting to marry in. Someone like Chen Lin hadn't even crossed the threshold. So, although both girls brought gifts, there was a clear hierarchy in them. However, Zhou Yunyun merely found the clothes beautiful and comfortable to wear, while Chen Lin knew the true weight of the top-tier gift she had received.

"Sit down and have some tea with me."

"Okay."

After the two girls sat down, Liu Yumei pointed to Aunt Liu: "A-Ting, brew the good tea my little sister-friend brought me." Since she acknowledged their relationship, she couldn't waste their friendship. This tea, she still had to find a way to drink it. Fortunately, Zhou Yunyun couldn't distinguish good tea from bad. Chen Lin was slightly puzzled but immediately praised the tea's many virtues repeatedly.

After one pot of tea was finished, Liu Yumei urged Aunt Liu to brew another. Seize the opportunity to quickly clear out inventory.

Chen Lin