Chapter 126: Cooperation

In Tang Lingwumin’s family dining room.

Zheng Fa, along with Tang Lingwumin and her mother, sat at the table.

The dishes on the table were not lavish, nor even particularly refined—just ordinary home-cooked meals.

But Tang Lingwumin looked surprised: “Mom, you cooked today?”

Aunt Ye smiled faintly, glancing at Zheng Fa: “Didn’t I tell you? Today’s meal is to thank Zheng’s student—only homemade food shows sincerity!”

Perhaps to show closeness, or maybe out of a desire for secrecy.

Only the three of them were in the entire dining room.

“Come on! Eat the chicken wings!”

Aunt Ye reached over, moved the plate of cola chicken wings from in front of Tang Lingwumin to Zheng Fa’s right side, and smiled: “When Lingwumin was little, she loved this dish I made—try some!”

Zheng Fa looked up at Tang Lingwumin.

She held her chopsticks, eyes fixed on the chicken wings, her expression full of shock.

Clearly, she truly loved this dish.

“And the meatballs—Lingwumin always loved meat-heavy ones!”

“We weren’t rich back then, and I was still healthy—Lingwumin adored my cooking. I fattened her up good. Now she’s grown up, not as cute as before.”

Listening to Aunt Ye’s sigh.

Zheng Fa stared at the plate piled high before him and fell silent.

Auntie, you remember every dish Lingwumin loved as a child—sounds like a deep mother-daughter bond.

But why not feed her?

Can’t you see this girl, moved yet holding her chopsticks mid-air, not eating a single bite of her favorite food?

As if sensing Zheng Fa’s gaze, Tang Lingwumin pouted, looked away from him, picked up a single bok choy from her own plate, and nibbled it slowly, like a hamster, her expression slightly wounded—clearly she disliked this dish.

Zheng Fa gently pushed his plate of chicken wings toward Tang Lingwumin.

Tang Lingwumin glanced at him, wrinkled her nose slightly, smiled faintly, and picked up a wing to eat.

Aunt Ye looked from Zheng Fa to her daughter, her smile deepening.

The simple meal ended.

The maid cleared the dishes. The three sipped tea and turned to serious matters.

“Lingwumin said you’re planning to build an old-age home?”

As she spoke, Aunt Ye’s tone carried unmistakable doubt.

Clearly, a young man like Zheng Fa wanting to enter this industry baffled her.

Zheng Fa glanced at Tang Lingwumin, unsure what she’d told her mother, and nodded to Aunt Ye.

“I just want to ask…” Aunt Ye’s face showed unease: “Is there anything I can help with?”

Wait, why are you being so humble if you want to help?

“The main issue with the old-age home right now is location,” Zheng Fa said after thinking: “I have specific requirements for terrain and topography.”

“Ah…” Aunt Ye glanced at Tang Lingwumin—clearly the girl hadn’t told her this—and after a moment’s thought said: “What exactly do you need?”

“First, it should be closer to Jingcheng or other major cities.”

This wasn’t just for Zheng Fa’s university convenience.

Major cities also have more talent.

“Second, someone needs to enter the mountains to scout preliminary locations.”

“That’s simple—I’ll hire a professional survey team,” Aunt Ye said.

That was fine, but Aunt Ye’s next sentence left Zheng Fa stunned:

“Location selection, permits, roads, construction—I can handle all of it for you.”

“This…”

…Auntie, you’re talking way too big.

Even without knowing the exact cost,

it was certainly no small sum.

Zheng Fa believed even for Tang Lingwumin’s family, this would be a significant investment.

“Earlier, I went for a medical checkup,” Aunt Ye said, as if sensing Zheng Fa’s surprise: “The doctor said my results were unbelievable.”

“….”

“I didn’t believe it—I went for another checkup in Jingcheng.”

Aunt Ye looked at Zheng Fa: “Everything’s fine. I’ve had this illness for over ten years—medication kept increasing, test results kept worsening, never improved until now.”

“So you mean…”

“As long as you keep treating me, whether you want to build an old-age home or a palace in the mountains—I’ll fund it.”

In Aunt Ye’s eyes lay deep pleading.

Zheng Fa still didn’t fully believe her—he understood her desperation to be cured.

But promising such a massive investment outright—felt irrational to him.

The rich are rich, not foolish—especially first-generation entrepreneurs like Tang Lingwumin’s parents. They’re not stingy, but they don’t waste money.

Aunt Ye’s generosity made Zheng Fa hesitate.

Aunt Ye seemed to sense his distrust. She smiled and explained: “Do you know how Lingwumin’s father made his fortune?”

Zheng Fa shook his head.

Tang Lingwumin’s face also showed curiosity—she clearly hadn’t known this either.

“Back then, our business had just started—we had only a modest fortune,” Aunt Ye’s expression turned nostalgic: “There was an opportunity, but it required a huge investment.”

“My husband and I didn’t have enough money—we had to borrow from banks and relatives.”

Aunt Ye looked at the two of them and continued: “We hesitated—wondering whether to risk it all. If the project failed, we’d lose everything and be buried in debt.”

“And then?” Tang Lingwumin asked.

“Then Lingwumin’s father happened to meet a master from the south…”

“….”

“The master calculated his fate and said this opportunity was his greatest chance in life,” Aunt Ye sighed: “We made up our minds and invested everything.”

Zheng Fa didn’t need to ask what happened next.

Just look at Tang Zhiqiang’s current success.

“Since then, I’ve known the world holds extraordinary people—meeting one is my blessing.”

Aunt Ye said softly to Zheng Fa.

Clearly, in her eyes, Zheng Fa was nearly equivalent to a master.

After a long silence, Zheng Fa finally spoke: “Auntie, don’t believe in superstition!”

Tang Lingwumin stared at him for a long time, a question mark slowly forming on her face—her eyes said plainly: You’re a cultivator, and you call this superstition?

Zheng Fa meant it sincerely.

In the Xuanwei Realm, he’d hardly ever heard of fortune-telling—perhaps because his cultivation base was too low to encounter it.

But in the modern world, there’s no spiritual energy at all.

This kind of thing sounded even more implausible.

“I understand, I understand—this shouldn’t be publicized.”

“It’s not like that…”

“Zheng’s student, your massage technique… is too crude.”

Aunt Ye’s words left Zheng Fa silent.

Seeing he didn’t speak, Aunt Ye smiled gently and added candidly: “Of course, I’m willing to invest so much because I hope to collaborate with you in the future.”

“Collaborate?”

“No matter how you cured me,” Aunt Ye smiled lightly: “I only hope that when I bring someone to you for treatment in the future, you’ll help—money won’t be an issue.”

Zheng Fa suddenly understood.

Aunt Ye’s offer to help build the old-age home—even at great cost—was clearly for this purpose.

She hadn’t even mentioned equity—clearly, this was her goal.

As if sensing Zheng Fa had figured it out, Aunt Ye said with deep meaning: “Some lives cannot be measured in money.”

After some discussion, Zheng Fa and Aunt Ye agreed the survey team must go first.

How to build the old-age home, and how to collaborate—those were matters for later.

…

Xuanwei Realm.

On the Eighth Peak of Jiushan, Sun Daoyu and Zhou Gan Yuan were climbing the mountain.

“These past two days, our Master hasn’t been happy.”

Sun Daoyu frowned.

“Mm.”

Zhou Gan Yuan’s distracted reply came.

Sun Daoyu turned back, glanced at his junior brother, and sighed inwardly: There’s another one even unhappier.

But he understood Zhou’s brother’s inner conflict.

Ultimately, recent events had driven a wedge between Zhou and their Master…

He even felt that Zhou’s grievance was justified—only out of respect for their Master did he refrain from saying anything.

Thinking of this, Sun Daoyu could only shake his head and look ahead.

“Huh? Isn’t that Zheng Fa?”

Seeing a figure on the mountain path, he said in surprise.