Chapter 17: Clearing After the Storm

Huang Ling furrowed her delicate brows, pondered for a moment, took another sip of tea, and said in a cool tone, "This Li Xunshou, though handsome and dignified, I do not hold him in high regard."

"Why?" Huang Qi asked in confusion. "He has looks and he has ability. Though a Shoulingren is not technically an official, once he grows, he will surely become a great figure capable of standing on his own. According to Li Xunshou, Brother Kunge is the most talented Shoulingren in Yulin County, without exception."

"He... has no desire to advance!" Huang Ling explained. "If he did, he would have accepted your invitation just now to go to Jincheng and claim his own 'opportunity.' But he didn't; instead, he spouted some twisted logic to fool people. I do not like that."

Huang Yan instinctively stroked his beard, his expression somewhat anxious.

Huang Qi asked in confusion, "Do you, Huang Ermei, hope that Brother Kunge will reach the highest rank in the court?"

"Not necessarily so." Huang Ling pondered for a moment and said, "I just dislike that kind of life without joy. Since he dislikes striving, the highest step he can reach in the future is merely to guard a corner of the land, protecting the people of one town or one county, trapped there for his entire life. I do not wish to live such a life; it is no different from a cage."

The Huang father and son both fell silent.

Although Huang Ling's words seemed somewhat ambitious and restless, one could not say she was wrong.

A woman wishing to marry a better husband is simply a matter of reason and emotion.

At this moment, the 'Hu Ji' nearby spoke up: "But I actually think such a man is a good match. Huang Ermei, you should really consider it carefully."

Huang Ling looked at her elder sister and sighed, "Sister, he has no ambition. He might never leave Jincheng in his life, nor will he ever become wealthy or powerful."

"That's quite good. Life is stable, and there is no need to wander and suffer."

"He must be a quiet fellow, unskilled in elegant arts and moon-gazing."

"You can do those things, can't you? Just teach him."

"Sister, why do you always contradict me?" Huang Ling grew somewhat anxious: "Anyway, I do not wish to marry him. If you want to marry him, you go ahead."

'Hu Ji' paused, looking somewhat disappointed as she said, "I am only doing this for your own good..."

Huang Ling immediately realized she had spoken too harshly. She quickly took Hu Ji's hand and said, "Sister, I was wrong. Let us not discuss this matter anymore. Can we just drop it?"

Hu Ji nodded gently.

At this moment, Huang Yan said, "Your mother is preparing the evening meal. Go help her."

The two young girls, knowing the men had important matters to discuss, left hand in hand.

Huang Yan drank his clear tea and said, "I recently had someone investigate. This Li Xunshou is a good man, upright in character, never bullying others by virtue of his power, nor seeking pleasure in places of flowers and willows. He is a rare talent among Shoulingren, more than enough to match your Huang Ermei."

Huang Qi smiled and said, "Indeed so. I discovered his integrity half a year ago."

Huang Yan sighed, "Especially his view on the word 'Virtue' just now. It revealed the essence of why the Master, back then, traveled through the seven states with three thousand disciples and was welcomed as a guest of honor everywhere."

Huang Qi smiled bitterly: "It is just that such a view makes one's Dao heart feel shattered. Pity that Huang Ermei misjudged him. Her prejudice is too deep; the two of them likely will not have any more fate together."

Huang Yan sneered and said, "Women are just like this: long hair, short sight."

Huang Qi's expression was somewhat strained: "Father, how can you say such things about your own daughter?"

"It is the truth." Huang Yan snorted: "I hired people to teach her to read and to understand principles, yet her mind is full of cunning. She only understood the books but cannot see through the ways of the world. She is foolish yet unaware of it, and quite proud of it. Just looking at her makes one angry."

"Then you go teach her."

Huang Yan said discontentedly: "If I dare scold her even twice, your mother would rush over and fight me to the death. Could you save me then?"

Huang Qi immediately wore an expression of utter helplessness.

In the Huang family... the Eldest Lady is the one who holds the authority.

However, shortly after, Huang Yan stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction: "Son, let me tell you. The fate between our Huang family and Li Xunshou may not be severed so easily."

"Hmm?" Huang Qi looked at his father in confusion.

"Just now, when I brought Li Xunshou back home, we happened to run into your Eldest Sister." Huang Yan narrowed his eyes and smiled: "His expression at that time was very unusual, just like the look I had when I first met your mother back then."

"What look?"

"Eyes shining with light."

Huang Qi was quite surprised: "Does Brother Kunge favor Eldest Sister's appearance?"

"Very likely!" Huang Yan couldn't help but clap his hands lightly: "Eldest Sister's marriage has always been a thorn in the heart of your mother and me. She is already nineteen, yet still cannot find a good match. If we delay any longer and she becomes an old maid, no one will want her. But judging by Li Xunshou's expression just now, I think there is hope."

"Then in the future, I will find opportunities to invite Brother Kunge to our home often."

"That is only right."

On the other side, Li Lin bought two Red Cherry Spears at the blacksmith's shop in the market, then went to the general store to buy more than a dozen common pills, as well as some oil and salt, before returning to the village.

Recently, his strength had increased, and his walking speed was much faster than before. It was still early when he returned to the village entrance.

Then he saw a crowd gathered at the village entrance.

Looking closer, they were split into two groups, shouting insults at each other.

Carrying a rather heavy bag, he walked over.

The villagers also noticed him and all turned to look.

Zhao Xiaohu ran over at the head of the pack, his eyes wide as bronze bells, his big-bearded face flushed with anger: "Lin Ge, there are thieves trying to take over your house."

Hmm?

Li Lin directed his gaze toward the group of outsiders. There were seven of them: two elderly people, four young people, and one middle-aged woman.

"Zhao Xiaohu, who are you calling a thief trying to take someone's house? We are simply reclaiming our old home."

A young man stepped forward and shouted, his attitude seeming somewhat arrogant.

Li Lin put down the bag and asked, "Who are you?"

"We are also people from Shangtikou Village. Now that we are returning here to live, is that not allowed?" the young man said, sticking out his neck.

Li Lin looked at Zhao Xiaohu: "Is that true?"

"Yes, they used to be..." Zhao Xiaohu said angrily, "but they moved away! They moved away four years ago. Now, hearing that the Yougui was destroyed by you, Lin Ge, they have the thick skin to come back. They have no shame at all."

Actually, in Li Lin's view, this was nothing special.

After all, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous situation. Previously, when the Yougui caused trouble outside the village, fleeing was normal.

If it were him, he would have run too.

It was just that he still felt these people were somewhat strange.

Normal villagers, upon seeing a Spirit Hunter, are always trembling with fear; yet these people instead display strong aggression.

When something unusual happens, there must be a demon behind it.

Let's stabilize first; he plans to observe the situation to see if there is any trap here.

Li Lin squinted his eyes and smiled: "Since they were people from Shangtikou Village before, there is no problem with them returning. With more people, our Shangtikou Village will appear even more prosperous."

Zhao Xiaohu spoke angrily: "But they want to take back the old house, the very one Lin Ge is living in now."

Oh!

So that is how it is.

Li Lin continued to smile with squinted eyes: "Do you have a land deed?"

"No, we don't. We are from a small village; what land deeds would we have?" A middle-aged man walked over: "But our ancestors have all lived here; others can testify to this."

Zhao Xiaohu's expression turned ugly, and he was left speechless.

Li Lin understood; he nodded and said: "In that case, I will move to another place. After all, there are still many empty houses in the village. However, you gentlemen must grant me a few more days so I have enough time to organize the furniture and miscellaneous items in the room."

"Agreed." The middle-aged man agreed: "In five days, our entire family will move back."

(End of this chapter)