Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty-Two: Must Seize the Opportunity!

While tidying up, An Luo also found a small box under the coffee table, containing two ginseng roots inside.

As well as a jade pendant, a bracelet, and a hairpin.

She had been fussing about in the Modern Era until well past midnight, and over in Da Yin, the women of the Cheng Family had likewise not closed their eyes all night.

Cheng Old Madam and Tian Shi stayed in the horse carriage the whole time, staring fixedly at the spot where Yu'an had previously vanished.

"Grandmother, the Immortal will surely cure Yu'an, right?"

Cheng Old Madam patted her hand, her tone steady.

"Don't worry. The Immortal's powers are vast and unfathomable—there will surely be a way."

The moment her words fell, a flash of faint light appeared, and the little fellow they had been speaking of materialized.

"Great-Grandmother, Mother, Yu'an is back!"

Seeing him completely transformed from his earlier sickly appearance, his round, big eyes now sparkling with spirit, bouncing about full of energy.

The two women felt relieved, and at the same time, their reverence for the Immortal deepened another level.

Tian Qin jumped down from the horse carriage to go find her mother-in-law, Meng Shi.

It wasn't that she didn't trust the Immortal, but rather that a reasonable excuse was needed for Yu'an to "get better."

Because there were still outsiders outside the horse carriage, Cheng Old Madam, on behalf of the Cheng Family, once again respectfully kowtowed to the Small Wooden Token.

"Many thanks to the Immortal. Once we are settled in the days to come, the Cheng Family will surely pay morning and evening respects, keep the incense burning without cease, and offer daily sacrifices to you."

Fortunately, An Luo was busy gathering up the gold, silver, and jewels on the floor, and when she glanced over in between, she was so startled that she hurriedly called out.

"Zaituan, quickly tell your Great-Grandmother to get up!"

I'm afraid it'll shorten my lifespan!

Yu'an hurried over to help her up.

"Great-Grandmother, please get up quickly."

Cheng Old Madam sat back down, first felt the temperature on his forehead with the back of her hand, then asked softly.

"Did you offer the sacrificial items to the Immortal?"

Yu'an obediently nodded.

"I did."

While they were speaking, Meng Shi boarded the horse carriage.

Yu'an began quietly telling the Ancestor about what he had just witnessed.

The three Ancestor listened, their hearts and minds utterly shaken.

Flying great iron birds, buildings soaring into the clouds covered in precious glazed tiles, iron boxes on the road that carried people at tremendous speed, Divine Artifacts for transmitting sound over a thousand miles…

It was truly too wondrous!

A look of longing appeared on Cheng Old Madam's face.

If only one could see it with one's own eyes, how wonderful that would be.

And so, inside the horse carriage, Yu'an was so excited that a faint sweat broke out on his forehead, his little mouth chattering away nonstop; for things he couldn't quite describe, he gestured with hands and feet alike.

The others in the carriage listened with utmost attentiveness, occasionally letting out soft exclamations of surprise.

In the end, the little fellow even enthusiastically told the Ancestor the story of Nezha.

"Telling a myth…"

Listening to the little tune hummed in that childish voice, Cheng Feng and the others keeping watch outside also showed smiles on their faces.

An Luo couldn't bear to break this warm scene, and quietly exited the Live Stream Room.

He was a child after all, and after talking for only a little while, the little fellow fell asleep.

The tiny person nestled in his own mother's arms, still clutching a blue water bottle with a straw in his hands, his little mouth moving slightly, as if he had eaten something delicious in his dream.

Meng Shi scraped the soft little flesh at his cheek with her knuckle, looking at him with doting affection.

"Look at this little fellow smiling—he must be having a sweet dream."

A smile also appeared on Cheng Old Madam's face.

What Tian Qin said was true—Yu'an was indeed having a sweet dream.

He was simply too happy!

In his dream, he had become a little hero just like Nezha!

With two tufts of hair shooting skyward, feet on Wind-Fire Wheels, one hand gripping the Universe Ring, the other holding the Red Armillary Sash, he soared high into the sky, flying over mountain after mountain, returning to the Capital, and arriving above the Imperial Palace.

He punched the tyrant and kicked the villainous National Preceptor!

Hmph-hah! Hyah-hah!

With a flick of his little hand, the Red Armillary Sash tightly bound the Emperor and the National Preceptor, suspending them in mid-air, scaring them out of their wits.

In his dream, Grandfather and the others had also returned.

The tyrant and the villainous National Preceptor tearfully begged him for mercy, remitting the Pingnan Marquis Residence's punishment and allowing them to return to the Capital.

He had become the Cheng Family's little hero!

Lifted high by Grandfather, Father, and little Uncle, he leaped with all his might, soaring into the sky, flying and flying, shoulder to shoulder with the sun, and at night hiding among the clouds, playing hide-and-seek with the stars and the moon…

A good night's sleep.

When the little fellow woke up, the others were already on the road.

Yu'an reached up and rubbed his bleary big eyes.

"Great-Grandmother?"

Cheng Old Madam, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them at the sound, and supporting the little fellow's shoulders, let him lean against her.

"Yu'an, are you awake? Have some water first."

Saying so, she picked up the water cup from the small square table.

"Mm."

After a cup of water, Yu'an felt much more alert. Recalling the dream, he scrambled up at once and launched into a vivid retelling of how brave he had been.

At first, hearing the little fellow say he had beaten up the Emperor in his dream, Cheng Old Madam found it quite amusing.

But later, when she heard him say all her children and grandchildren had come back, her expression grew forlorn, her eyes filled with deep sorrow.

She gazed out the window and let out a long, quiet sigh.

"What a lovely dream."

……

The afternoon sun was scorching, so the group decided to rest for a while in a grove of trees.

Cheng Qiuyun took out a waterskin, drank a big mouthful, and wiped the sweat from her chin.

They had been on the road since the sky was barely light, just to make up for the time they would lose resting at noon.

Now they were tired, hot, and hungry — but the heat had killed their appetites.

She walked over to the horse carriage.

"Grandmother, I'll go up the mountain and see if I can pick some wild fruit."

Hearing her words, Yu'an suddenly lifted his little head, his big eyes gleaming.

Fruit!

"Elder Aunt, wait!"

He hurried to call out and stop her.

"I have fruit!"

With that, he pointed, and in the next instant three large watermelons appeared inside the horse carriage.

Cheng Qiuyun couldn't help swallowing.

"Watermelons?!"

"What melons? Where?"

Cheng Qiuluo heard the commotion and ran over. Seeing the three basin-sized watermelons in the carriage, her eyes went wide.

"This… Grandmother?"

She looked longingly at her grandmother.

Cheng Old Madam nodded. "Cut them open."

"Yes! I'll do it!"

Cheng Qiuluo excitedly raised her hand and shouted.

After the watermelons were cut, Cheng Old Madam looked at her eldest granddaughter.

"Qiuyun, go take two pieces to Colonel Wu and the others."

Hearing this, Cheng Qiuyun was puzzled at first, then gave her a deep look and nodded.

"This granddaughter understands."

Grandmother wants to test them.

Under a big tree a dozen or so meters away, Feng Shan bit into a dry, tough steamed bun and had to gulp down several mouthfuls of water before he could swallow it.

He watched the Cheng Family's horse carriage, then nudged Wu Meng's arm with his elbow.

"Boss Wu, what do you think they're doing?"

Wu Meng was drinking water. The nudge hit his wound, his arm jerked, and water splashed all over him.

He glared at the culprit and said irritably.

"What they do is none of your business!"

Feng Shan gave an awkward chuckle and helped wipe him down.

"Sorry, sorry about that. Give me that shirt of yours, I'll wash it for you."

"Colonel Wu!"

Hearing the voice, the two men stood up.

"What does the young Madam Cheng have for us?"

Cheng Qiuyun held out two pieces of watermelon.

"Have some watermelon to cool off."

"This… isn't that appropriate?"

The two men stared dumbly at the watermelons, which seemed to radiate a moist, dewy freshness.

They had heard of and seen this kind of fruit, but never tasted it — after all, it was reserved exclusively for the imperial household and the high officials and nobility.

"Go on, take them."

Cheng Qiuyun shoved them into their hands and went back.

The moment they took hold, the two men were even more astonished.

They're actually cold?!

A wave of fruit fragrance, cool and sweet, washed over them, and Feng Shan's saliva went into overdrive.

"Boss Wu? This melon… do we eat it?"

Even if the young Madam Cheng had the means to buy these melons and carry them along, in this heat for them to still be cold was clearly suspicious.

The answer he got was a series of slurping, gurgling, chomping sounds.

Wu Meng pushed down his thoughts and took a moment to reply.

"Eat them, of course we eat them!"

The Cheng Family had already given them a chance — they had to seize it!