Chapter 164: A Chance Encounter with Lou Bancheng

Just as Zhang Laohan finished speaking, a knock sounded at the door; it was the uncles and elders from his grandfather's brother's family, all here to deliver gifts for the New Year.

"Laizhong, don't decline. Everyone has seen how the winter wheat is growing this year; it's clearly greener and oilier than in years past."

"That's right, Brother Laizhong, I'm afraid our yield this year will be several hundred jin higher."

"Yes, indeed."

"Alright, alright, come in and sit."

Zhang Ping'an had brought plenty of fruit back this time, so he portioned out a jin or two for each family, though it took quite a bit of back-and-forth before they would accept it.

After seeing the uncles and elders off, several more groups of people came to the Zhang household one after another, all bringing eggs, hens, rabbits, and the like, but Zhang Ping'an didn't intervene again, leaving it to Zhang Laohan and the others to handle.

"Ping'an, take all of these back with you; it'll save you from having to go hunting in the mountains."

"Alright, I'll take them in a few trips."

The family wasn't short on food, and Zhang Ping'an happened to be planning to swap them all for Space Ingredients to keep at home.

That night, Zhang Ping'an heard rustling in the room where the grain was stored, so he decisively released the Lynx; before long, a row of sleeping mice lay on the ground. Good heavens, there really is no place with grain that doesn't have mice.

After disposing of the mice, Zhang Ping'an plucked a few strands of the Lynx's fur and left them in the room so that they would deter mice from coming in the future, and he also took the opportunity to swap most of the wheat the family had traded for in the village with Space Wheat.

The next morning, after eating dumplings, Zhang Ping'an took his children and younger brother out to pay New Year's calls, then rested at home for two days, quietly reading medical texts with Wang Xiaoling.

On the third day of the New Year, taking advantage of the fine sunshine, the Zhang family headed back to Sijiucheng, and at that moment, a broken-down sedan was stopped on the road leading to Sijiucheng.

As Zhang Ping'an approached, he saw a man who looked like a butler tinkering with the car.

Zhang Ping'an didn't stop; these people were likely Capitalists from Sijiucheng.

"Little brother, wait a moment, may I ask if you know how to fix a car?"

"Sorry, I don't know anything about that."

"Ping'an brother?"

Zhang Ping'an was stunned upon hearing this; it had been a long time since anyone had called him that. He turned his head and saw Lou Xiaoe standing timidly by the car, waving a greeting.

"Lou Xiaoe?" Lou Xiaoe was only thirteen or fourteen at the time, but she was already a budding beauty.

Although the two hadn't met in all these years, Xu Damao's mother would buy chestnuts and hawthorn from Zhang Ping'an every month.

Later, when buying and selling were no longer allowed, she would trade for them with goods, and Zhang Ping'an and Lou Bancheng could be considered to have had a meeting of minds.

"You girl, hurry and get inside, it's so cold out here."

Lou Bancheng also stepped out of the car at this time. It was Zhang Ping'an's first time seeing him; he looked somewhat similar to Lou Zhenyu, but appeared even more scholarly.

"Little brother, I must thank you for the hawthorn and chestnuts all these years."

Lou Bancheng hadn't actually recognized Zhang Ping'an at first; it was Lou Xiaoe's form of address that made him remember.

He had had a poor appetite in previous years and had drunk plenty of traditional Chinese medicine, but the effects weren't obvious. It was only after stealing some of Lou Xiaoe's candied hawthorns and sugar-roasted chestnuts that he accidentally discovered his appetite had opened up, which led to Xu Damao's mother purchasing hawthorn from him every month.

"Hello, Director Lou, Lou..."

"Ping'an brother, just call me Xiao'e."

"Alright." Zhang Ping'an nodded but didn't call out the name.

"Little brother, if it's convenient, could we borrow your vehicle? Our car has been in the snow for a while now. Although someone has already set out on foot to the city to find rescue, they won't be back for a while, and the young lady and my wife are already shivering from the cold."

"Little brother, don't worry, just let the mother and daughter get in to warm up."

A broken-down sedan was just a tin box; in the snow, they would likely be shivering before long, not to mention that the Lou Bancheng family wasn't wearing padded jackets or other cold-weather gear.

"This..."

"Ping'an brother, let them come up."

"Alright."

Zhang Ping'an opened the rear wooden door and gestured for them to get in. Wang Xiaoling looked at Lou Bancheng, who was constantly stomping his feet, and added:

"Uncle Lou, you come up too."

"You are Divine Doctor Wang's granddaughter?" Lou Bancheng seemed to have just recognized Wang Xiaoling.

"It is me, Uncle Lou."

"You are Xiao Ling sister?"

Zhang Ping'an hadn't expected their two families to actually know each other; it seemed the Wang Family's business in the past was even larger than he had imagined.

"It's me. Xiao'e, I haven't seen you in years, you've grown into a big girl. Uncle Lou, why don't you come back to the city with us first?"

"That would be good, it really is fate. A Fu, we'll head back first; you wait for A Biao to return and come together."

"Very well, sir."

"Xiao Ling sister, you and Ping'an brother..."

"We got married two years ago. These are our sons, Weijun and Weidong. These are Grandpa and Grandma Lou, and this is your aunt."

"Oh." Lou Xiaoe didn't understand why she felt a sense of loss in her heart; she felt as if she had lost something.

"Hello, Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt."

"Hehehe, hello, what two adorable little ones." Lou Bancheng fumbled around on his person, but couldn't find anything decent.

"Ahem, Xiao Ling, I'll make up for their gifts when we get back," Lou Bancheng said, feeling uncharacteristically awkward.

"You are too kind, Uncle Lou."

Lou Xiaoe quickly recovered and began chatting and reminiscing with Wang Xiaoling, each holding a child.

Lou Bancheng and his wife exchanged a glance; they had naturally seen their daughter's disappointment just now, and he gave his wife an imperceptible shake of his head.

With Zhang Ping'an driving at full speed, they encountered the bodyguard who had gone to report the situation in just over ten minutes.

"A Biao, you go back first and meet up with A Fu. I will send a car to pick you up as soon as possible."

"Very well, sir." They were all family-born servants of Lou Bancheng and were fiercely loyal to the Lou family.

In less than an hour, they arrived at Sijiucheng.

"Director Lou, we've entered the city."

"Fine, just drop us off anywhere with a telephone."

"Alright."

Zhang Ping'an found a nearby post office and let the three members of the Lou family off.

"Sister Xiao Ling, Brother Ping'an, I'll come find you to play when I have time. Weijun, Weidong, don't forget your aunt; I'll bring you something tasty next time."

"Alright."

"Okay, Auntie." It was clear that Lou Xiaoe had already won the affection of the twin brothers along the way.

"Many thanks, little brother."

"You're too kind, Director Lou. We'll be heading back now."

"Alright."

Upon returning home, the two little ones ran off to play with their older nephew Bang Geng, and Zhang Ping'an asked about the doubt in his heart.

"Xiao Ling, do you know Xiao'e?"

"I do, Brother Ping'an."

"..."

Seeing the mischievous smile on Wang Xiaoling's lips, Zhang Ping'an didn't say a word, hoisted her up, and gave her a smack on the bottom; he had to reassert his authority as a husband today.

"Brother Ping'an, I was wrong, I'll tell you everything."

Looking at Wang Xiaoling's blushing face, Zhang Ping'an felt the urge to act again, so Wang Xiaoling hurriedly spoke up.

"Brother Ping'an, the Lou family also has a medicinal herb business. At first, Lou Zhenhua knew my grandfather, and later, with the help of the Lou family, my father and second uncle's business grew bigger and bigger. Our two families used to meet in the past."

Damn it, the sky is falling. Ten years later, the Lou family will be liquidated, and the Wang Family probably won't be able to escape either. Plus, with Master holding the title of Divine Doctor, the debuffs are practically stacked to the max.

"What's wrong, Brother Ping'an?" Wang Xiaoling asked, watching Zhang Ping'an's expression shift uncertainly.

"No, it's nothing."

Zhang Ping'an shook his head, thinking of a way to cope. The best method right now is to accumulate connections during the three-year special period. Of course, the grand trend is irreversible, but the minor trends can be changed; I will try my best to let them suffer a little less during those ten years.