Chapter 12: with translation of chapter title

After work, Chen Lao held Xixi, braving the wind and snow as he walked home with Li Che and Zhang Ya.

To prevent Xixi from suffering the wind and snow, Chen Lao even directly used his internal force, dispelling the cold for the little girl, so that no snow fell on her.

Returning to the crude earthen hut, Zhang Ya and Li Che got busy, asking Chen Lao to return and stand guard, and naturally they needed to treat him well.

They prepared good wine and dishes, and together ate a hearty dinner.

"Xiao Ya, this craftsmanship is not bad, good, good; in the future I, Old Chen, will come to mooch meals, and then I'll have good fortune."

Chen Lao ate dishes while drinking wine, squinting his small eyes, extremely happy.

Xixi sat on the wooden baby chair Li Che made for her, waving her hands, as if she also wanted to take a sip of Chen Lao's gourd wine.

Li Che drank a few cups with Chen Lao, then drank no more.

After all, tonight he had to worry about the Spirit Infant Sect's followers being driven to desperate measures, so he needed to stay alert.

After dinner, Chen Lao played with Xixi, while Li Che sat on a chair, lit by an oil lamp, as usual taking out the wood brought back from the woodcarving shop, practicing carving, attempting to make mechanisms.

Perhaps because their relationship had grown closer, that borrowed copy of the Tangji Jianji Yaowu, Chen Lao mentioned during a drinking break that he would no longer take money from Li Che.

After Li Che became an official woodcarver, although he wasn't lacking those fifty wen, this after all was Chen Lao's attitude, so Li Che naturally raised a toast to thank him.

The sleeve crossbow was completed, but Li Che didn't stop; he intended to make two more sets, one to hide in the sleeve of his other arm, and the other to prepare for his wife Zhang Ya, just in case.

As expected, after producing the sleeve crossbow once, the Dao fruit's maturity had already been drawn out, so it could no longer gain growth; if one wanted the Dao fruit to mature further, one could only produce other mechanisms.

The wind and snow were dense, howling and raging outside the house.

Inside the house, the oil lamp's wick jumped and flickered, casting swaying shadows.

Late at night.

Chen Lao, who was guarding Xixi as she slept, suddenly narrowed his eyes, slipped out of the house soundlessly, and in a single leap landed on the roof.

His fierce qi and blood roared like an angry dragon amidst the wind and snow.

Several approaching black shadows sensed Chen Lao's aura, and without the slightest hesitation, turned and fled.

Chen Lao's face darkened; these followers of the Spirit Infant Sect were truly mad, daring to commit midnight atrocities.

"One opened meridian, four tempered skin... this lineup... If I, Chen Lao, am not here tonight, A Che probably won't be able to protect Xixi..."

Chen Lao pulled open the gourd's stopper and took a swig of wine.

A fierce light filled his eyes to the extreme.

Spirit Infant Sect...

Indeed, they've made Fēiléichéng a murky, chaotic mess.

Returning indoors, Chen Lao nodded at Li Che, then immediately returned to the sleeping Xixi's side.

Li Che gripped the carving knife, veins bulging like coiling dragons on his hand; after a long while, he slowly exhaled, calmed his mind, and continued carving.

Today, he, Li Che, would remember this favor from Chen Lao.

The next day, the weather cleared, and no more wind and snow fell.

Zhang Ya rose early and began packing her things, preparing for the move.

Although her husband hadn't said anything to her, she, being meticulous, saw that Master Chen had been invited to stay in the house to guard it, and thus realized that danger threatened their little home.

So, she felt no sadness about moving, only the desire to quickly move into the courtyard of the woodcarving shop.

There wasn't much in the earthen house; some daily items were stacked, a donkey cart was called, and they set off toward Xu Ji Mu diao Pu.

The neighbors saw the commotion and poked their heads out, each looking on with astonishment and envy.

"They've moved house... this family is bound to rise in the world, flying out of our little corner."

"I heard that Che Ge'er, having become an official woodcarver master from being a mover at Xu Ji Mu diao Pu...... will now be able to earn big money!"

"One look at Che Ge and you know he can get things done! Now that he's become a woodcarver master, I hear that a single woodcarving piece carved by a woodcarver master...... can sell for ten taels of silver!"

"It's different now; they're not of the same world anymore."

The neighbors muttered, envy reddening their eyes, all sorts of reactions arising as they watched the donkey cart crush the pristine snow, disappearing around the alley corner.

Upon arriving at the woodcarving shop, they went straight inside.

Li Che did not see the third steward, but instead saw an elderly man dressed in fine clothes, resembling a steward, holding a bunch of keys in his hand.

"Li Shifu, the boss has asked me to wait for you and accompany you in selecting a courtyard."

The steward smiled, then turned his gaze to Chen Dabao, who was holding Xixi to one side.

"Oh, Master Chen is here too?"

Chen Lao chuckled: "Lao Sun, directly take A Che to the two-opening courtyard opposite my house; from now on we'll be neighbors!"

The steward, known as Lao Sun, grinned: "That's great, come this way."

The group entered the workshop's main courtyard, walking through the narrow lane between the high walls, and soon arrived at the residential area, seeing courtyard after courtyard lined up on either side of the lane.

Xu Ji Mu diao Pu is huge, occupying an enormous area!

After all, Xu Ji has wealth and influence, practices martial arts, mastering inner strength, has developed in Fēiléichéng for over two hundred years, and has deep foundations.

Compared to even the biggest landlords, they naturally have seized not a little land.

The steward Lao Sun used the key to open the lock, pushed the door open, and the pristine snow piled on the roof was shaken off, revealing a courtyard covered in thick snow yet extraordinarily spacious.

"Li Shifu, take a look; if you're not satisfied, you can look at other courtyards."

The steward Lao Sun looked at Li Che, his attitude being quite warm and respectful.

To rise from a mover to an official woodcarver master, one must have extraordinary woodcarving talent; to become the steward of Xu Ji Mu diao Pu, one must have keen judgment, and would hardly do foolish things that easily offend people.

Li Che took Zhang Ya's hand and entered the courtyard; after a careful look, the tension that had gripped him for a long time finally eased.

A smile curved his lips: "Good, very good."

Zhang Ya also gazed at this bright and luxurious mansion in bewildered disbelief; compared to the previous shabby earthen hut they'd lived in, it was truly far better.

"In a couple of days, let's invite Uncle's family over for a housewarming meal; then we'll have finally settled down."

After viewing the house, Zhang Ya leaned into Li Che's embrace, her eyes glimmering with a hint of sparkle.

Her husband had promised her a beautiful life, and now… it had finally come true.

The days were gradually getting better!

"You two tidy up the yard, move in properly—I've taken Old Man Xixi to my place to play; when you're done, come over for a meal. I'll have someone call a table from Chunfeng Lou, right in the courtyard opposite yours."

Chen Dabao held Xixi, shouted a couple of sentences, then returned to his own courtyard.

They were close enough that one could even hear the giggling laughter Xixi and Chen Dabao made while playing.

Li Che gave a knowing smile: "I didn't expect Old Chen and Xixi to get along so well……"

"Master Chen is a good person; with Xixi by his side, we can also tidy up with peace of mind……" Zhang Ya smiled, pursing her lips.

The couple exchanged a glance, then eagerly began tidying the yard.

……

……

Time does not stay still; seasons flow like water.

Time is like wood shavings flying from a cutter's blade, unknowingly scattering across the ground.

Xixi turned one year old.

Inside the courtyard.

As autumn chill faded, deep winter's plain snow had already begun to drift down, piling up in the courtyard like white cotton.

Li Che and Old Chen sat around the stove, with a pot of heated old yellow wine warming above it; the table held sliced braised beef, pig ears, tossed with cilantro and garlic paste, giving off a fragrant aroma.

In the courtyard, the one-year-old Xixi stepped onto the wooden baby walker Li Che had made for her, running about gleefully, chasing the snowflakes falling from the sky.

Old Chen gazed at Xixi indulgently, never moving his eyes: "Oh dear, little stinky Xixi, it's snowing outside, it's freezing—hurry back inside to play."

"Uncle Chen, it's fine—let her run wild; after she tires out a bit, she'll be easier to put to sleep at night, otherwise her boundless energy has no outlet, and late at night she'll stare wide-eyed like a bell."

In the kitchen, Zhang Ya brought out a plate of steaming hot stir-fried edamame, smiling as she spoke.

"Hey, Xixi's turned one—how come your family never thought of throwing a celebration? I, the old man, intend to let Xixi receive gifts in grand style…… I've called over several of the old guys from around; you'd better set up a few tables!"

Old Chen grabbed a handful of edamame, eating it while chuckling away.

Li Che originally didn't want to hold a first-birthday banquet; although he'd moved to the shop's manor nearly a year ago and the Soul Infant Sect had been quiet, …… deep down Li Che still remained vigilant.

Moreover, the closer Xixi's first birthday came, the more vigilant Li Che became.

After all…… that Lei Chunlan had originally specialized in attacking one-year-old infants!

However, after the couple discussed it, they ultimately decided to hold a first-birthday feast; mainly because the courtyard was spacious enough, holding it at home naturally also qualified as safe.

The old yellow wine was warmed, and a cup was poured for Old Chen.

Li Che also poured himself a cup, took a gentle sip; the wine's fragrance entered his throat, dispelling the winter chill.

Suddenly, Li Che felt a faint tremor in his heart.

Before his eyes, an image instantly appeared.

Upon the vast earth, a towering treasure tree reaching into the clouds, lush with branches and leaves, suddenly bore a seven‑colored fruit, its radiant glow seemingly reflecting Xixi's many growth scenes over the past year.

Li Che's eyes lit up in an instant.

A long‑awaited anticipation finally blossomed at this moment.

Xixi, one year old, the second Dao Fruit……

had arrived.

……

【Your daughter is one year old, safe and sound; you have obtained a Dao Fruit "Dragon Elephant Vajra"】

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(End of chapter)