Chapter 268

Even though he had gone to sleep quite late last night, Li Zhuiyuan still woke up at his specific early morning hour.

What woke him was not just his biological clock, but also his anticipation for the new day.

Opening his eyes and turning his head, he saw that figure already standing before the table, holding a brush.

A moon-white short shirt, a mist-green pleated skirt, and a bamboo-patterned white jade hairpin; one person formed a scene, misty and ethereal.

A Li turned to the side, and their gazes met.

Li Zhuiyuan got out of bed and walked to the painting table.

On that scroll, the place where the two children played had been filled by A Li with a circle of flowers and grass.

Li Zhuiyuan had deliberately left this painting spread out here last night; A Li had always been able to see the two children Tan Wenbin carried on his shoulders, so naturally, she could recognize them.

However, simply painting a landscape background for them was clearly too monotonous.

Li Zhuiyuan pointed his finger at the large blank spaces nearby and suggested:

"Here, here, and here—all of these could have private schools painted in, and then a few old Confucian scholars holding rulers standing at the school gates."

A Li nodded, signaling that she understood.

Li Zhuiyuan continued: "You could also paint a few Western missionaries to teach English."

The corners of the mouths of the two children in the painting, who had originally looked joyful, suddenly drooped.

When Li Zhuiyuan went out to wash up, he happened to run into Great-Grandfather sweeping up dust with a broom.

Li Sanjiang had gone to sleep very early yesterday, so he had woken up exceptionally early today; he was sweeping the path Li Zhuiyuan had paved with yellow paper ash last night.

"I don't know where this dust blew in from; why is it still a bit sticky?"

"Great-Grandfather, I'll help you splash some water."

With a "whoosh," under the rush of water, the ashes quickly dissolved.

Li Sanjiang leaned on his broom and looked down at the dam below, where Liu Yumei was currently sitting and drinking tea.

It seemed this worldly old lady's health had improved.

Li Sanjiang had actually been quite worried about her a few days ago; after all, once a person reached a certain age, one never knew which day some ailment might carry them off.

After washing up, there was no chess this morning because A Li was still busy painting the "tutoring class."

Li Zhuiyuan was finally able to free up his hands to open the *Code of Conduct for River-Walking* to summarize and organize it.

The morning breeze carried a refreshing chill, blowing in through the screen window and bringing with it a slightly playful vitality.

Li Zhuiyuan finished writing, rubbed his wrists, and then got up to go to A Li's side; several private schools and a small church were already in place—this was the foreground.

The background still had plenty of space to plan, enough to accommodate a comprehensive development of "morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, and labor."

Tan Wenbin contained deep fatherly love for these two children, including when he conducted their "post-mortem education."

But when it came to Li Zhuiyuan, the world became much crueler; mainly because in Li Zhuiyuan's own mind, "learning" and "burden" or "exhaustion" had absolutely nothing to do with each other.

"Time for breakfast!"

He went downstairs to eat breakfast.

Runsheng was already prepared; while everyone else had a bowl of plain noodles sprinkled with scallions for a delicate touch, Runsheng had a large basin, losing all grace while fully displaying his boldness.

Li Sanjiang asked in surprise: "Eh, where is Youhou?"

Runsheng: "Grandpa Li, A You went to pick up Zhuangzhuang."

Li Sanjiang: "When will Zhuangzhuang be back?"

Runsheng: "I don't know; Zhou Yunyun also returned to Nantong."

"Then we won't rush him." Li Sanjiang took a bite of noodles and then asked in confusion, "Zhou Yunyun returned to Nantong—what does that have to do with Youhou? Why did he run off there?"

After slurping his chopsticks, Li Sanjiang said very solemnly:

"You lot, you must properly remind Youhou that there are some things that absolutely must not be done."

"Achoo!"

Lin Shu You let out a loud sneeze.

The two were sitting on the guardrail of Shijia Bridge; this bridge was on the highway, and since one could only take this road from the city to Shigang, cars passing by would inevitably see them.

Tan Wenbin handed Lin Shu You a tissue and asked: "With your physical constitution, you can still catch a cold?"

Lin Shu You also felt it was strange and said: "I don't know either."

Tan Wenbin jumped off the railing, stood in front of Lin Shu You, and reached out to straighten his collar.

"Come on, cheer up. You've got a great look, young man; give yourself some sunshine and confidence."

Lin Shu You was handsome.

If one ignored his slightly accented Mandarin, Lin Shu You was almost exactly the male lead from the popular yellow-covered romance novels of the day.

Back when he attended large lectures, female students from other classes would often take the initiative to strike up a conversation with A You.

At this moment, facing Brother Bin's encouragement, A You could only force a smile.

A white sedan drove past quickly.

Lin Shu You's vertical pupils flashed, and he said: "Zhou Yunyun."

The sedan made a U-turn ahead, drove back, and parked by the bridge.

The first to get out was Zhou Yunyun, who had been sitting in the passenger seat; as soon as she got out, she threw herself directly into Tan Wenbin's arms, tears flowing uncontrollably.

The panic, nightmares, and various pressures that had accumulated in her heart over these days could finally be completely cast aside upon seeing Tan Wenbin.

Her hands gripped Tan Wenbin's arms tightly, her ears carefully listening to his heartbeat; she needed to confirm that all of this was real and not her own dream.

Tan Wenbin hugged her shoulder with one hand and gently stroked her hair with the other, resting his chin on Zhou Yunyun's head and sniffing the fragrance on her.

When people are young, they often have unrealistic fantasies about love, thinking that the wedding vow of staying together through sickness and poverty is just a meaningless procedural formality.

But only after truly reaching a certain stage do they realize how difficult and precious it is for a partner to be able to do that.

Some people spend ten or even twenty years cautiously trying to check the answer, while others don't even dare to test it at all.

For Tan Wenbin, the person in his arms now was a girl who would be distraught because of his "death."

Even Tan Wenbin himself couldn't understand why she was so fond of him.

The person in the driver's seat got out; the girl was wearing a black leather jacket, adorned with metal pendants, her hair tied up, the whole person exuding a capable and cold aura.

This image was exactly like a cover on a rock album, missing only an electric guitar and the wild swaying of headbanging.

Lin Shu You looked at her, then looked at Zhou Yunyun in Brother Bin's arms.

Wasn't it said that Zhou Yunyun's classmate was very similar to Zhou Yunyun?

This... where was the similarity?

Lin Shu You admitted she was very pretty and had a great figure, but this temperament was not what he liked; after all, deep down, A You was a very upright and traditional person.

He could understand the pursuit of fashion and individuality, and was even willing to express support, but that didn't mean he himself could accept it.

The girl was also sizing up Lin Shu You; when she came, she had heard Zhou Yunyun say she would introduce her to a handsome young man.

He was indeed quite handsome; standing there, he had an indescribable uprightness, but she didn't like this kind of obedient and well-behaved boy—being with such a boy made it easy to lose the passion for life.

Tan Wenbin's gaze swept over the two of them, and only then did he realize he had been negligent.

He had originally thought that like attracts like, and that those who could get along well with Zhou Yunyun should generally be similar, but in life and friendships, complementary situations often occurred.

For example, with Zhou Yunyun's gentle and quiet nature, it was actually very easy for strong-willed female partners to appear by her side.

Tan Wenbin: "Yunyun, care to introduce us?"

Zhou Yunyun immediately wiped away her tears and smiled with red-rimmed eyes: "Let me introduce you—Linlin, this is my boyfriend, Tan Wenbin."

Tan Wenbin corrected: "Fiancé; we've already met the parents."

Zhou Yunyun punched Tan Wenbin's chest and continued the introduction: "This is Lin Shu You, Binbin's good friend, from Fujian."

Tan Wenbin: "A You is my brother from another mother."

Zhou Yunyun: "Chen Lin, a senior one year ahead of me, from Wenzhou."

Chen Lin took the initiative to walk toward Lin Shu You; Lin Shu You thought she wanted to shake hands, so he stepped forward and extended his palm.

Who knew Chen Lin would directly pull a cigarette from her pocket and offer one to Lin Shu You.

Lin Shu You lowered his head, looking at the cigarette in his palm.

Chen Lin tossed another one to Tan Wenbin, then took out an exquisite lighter, lit it with a "click," took a puff, and blew out a smoke ring—all in one go.

Lin Shu You silently held the cigarette in his mouth.

It wasn't just A You who was silent; the Master Tongzi Spirit was too.

Earlier, while waiting on the bridge, the Master Tongzi Spirit had been busy giving his medium ideological work.

Once he saw the real person, the Master Tongzi Spirit shut up too.

Chen Lin lit the lighter again, leaned over to Lin Shu You's mouth, and helped him light it.

"You don't smoke, do you?"

Lin Shu You nodded: "I used to, but later Brother Bin told me to quit."

Tan Wenbin took out his lighter to light his own, smiling: "Young people are in the prime of their growth; why smoke?"

Chen Lin pointed at Tan Wenbin's hair and shrugged: "This hair dye is very trendy."

Only then did Zhou Yunyun notice that Tan Wenbin's hair was white; earlier she had been too focused on checking if Tan Wenbin was truly alive to notice the details.

"Binbin, your hair..."

Tan Wenbin: "During my internship, my mentor said I looked too green, so to make it easier to carry out work, I dyed my hair white. Look, doesn't it look much more steady?"

Zhou Yunyun: "It doesn't look good; it makes you look old."

Tan Wenbin: "That just means it's working. Don't worry, it'll turn black again in a while; I was being cheap and used low-quality hair dye. Let's go, let's go to town for breakfast first. There are few shops here in Shinan; let's go to Shigang to eat. Student Chen, how about I drive?"

Chen Lin nodded and directly opened the car door to sit in the back.

Tan Wenbin stepped on the cigarette on the ground, sat in the driver's seat, and Lin Shu You opened the passenger door; just as he was about to sit in, he saw Zhou Yunyun walking over, so he awkwardly placed his hand under the door frame to prevent her from bumping her head.

Zhou Yunyun: "A You, you're too polite."

Lin Shu You smiled, then also sat in the back, putting out his cigarette before getting in.

But after sitting in, he found that Chen Lin was still puffing away, and there was a lingering smell of old smoke in the car; clearly, she didn't cherish her car.

The car started, and Chen Lin asked: "Student Tan, how did you manage to make our Yunyun so devoted to you? If I weren't driving, she probably would have caught the first bus back this morning."

Tan Wenbin said while making a U-turn: "The class monitor from high school falls for the troublemaker boy sitting next to the teacher's desk—how classic is that, right?"

Zhou Yunyun sat in the passenger seat with a red face, not speaking.

Chen Lin: "I told Yunyun that was because she was young, hadn't seen the world, and was easily deceived when she didn't know better. Yunyun refuted me, saying it wasn't like that; she said you could risk your life to treat her well."

Zhou Yunyun reminded: "Linlin..."

Tan Wenbin pursed his lips and didn't elaborate on this issue, only saying faintly: "It's only right."

Back then, that woman from Shi Zhuozhao had cast a curse on Zhou Yunyun out of jealousy, and he had followed Brother Xiaoyuan to kill his way to Shi Zhuozhao; that girl who cast the curse was dismembered by Tan Wenbin with a Yellow River shovel.

Zhou Yunyun didn't know about these things, but a woman's sixth sense made her vaguely realize what Tan Wenbin had done for her during those few days.

They found an old-fashioned noodle shop in Shigang Town; it wasn't large, and since the morning rush hour had passed, there weren't many customers inside.

Tan Wenbin: "Come, have a taste; I often came to this one when I was a commuter student."

"Binbin, oh my, is it really you, Binbin? Haven't seen you in a long time."

"Mm, Auntie Zhao, it's me."

"This is..." Auntie Zhao pointed at Zhou Yunyun and asked.

"My child's mother."

"Ah, so soon?"

"That's right, we've already had two."

"You brat, still as fond of spouting nonsense, talking without any seriousness."

Tan Wenbin laughed it off and ordered noodles, wontons, and some steamed buns and fried dough sticks.

The environment inside was a bit greasy, especially in the seats further in, where the walls were somewhat blackened.

Lin Shu You was just about to open his mouth to tell Chen Lin that she should sit on the outside and he would sit on the inside.

As a result, Chen Lin spoke first: "I'll sit on the inside, you sit on the outside."

After saying that, she sat down first.

It could be seen that her family conditions were very good, but she had a strong ability to adapt to the environment.

Tan Wenbin: "Sorry, after all, we're a small place, and the conditions are simple."

Chen Lin: "This is the place where you and Yunyun lived and went to school; it has your stories. Isn't that what one looks for when going out to play?"

Lin Shu You: "No matter how beautiful the scenery is, if there's no story, it's easy to get bored."

Chen Lin looked at Lin Shu You, picked up a small steamed bun, and said: "Come, a bun to toast you."

Lin Shu You took the bun and ate it somewhat embarrassedly; in fact, this was something Brother Xiaoyuan had said when they went to other places in the province.

Because many tourist attractions in JS province had no famous mountains or magnificent scenery, they relied on the dividends of promoting the poetry of predecessors, and then tourists would come in an endless stream to imagine the rest.

Tan Wenbin: "After eating, I'll take you to stroll around the city and climb Mount Langshan?"

If nothing else, when it came to tourism resources in the province, if Nantong claimed to be second to last, no other city would dare to fight for the title of last place.

Chen Lin shook her head: "No need for such trouble; I checked the altitude of Mount Langshan, and running up there might not even make one sweat."

Tan Wenbin: "This is called easy mountain climbing; too high isn't good either, it's tiring."

Chen Lin: "You guys go wherever you want, even if it's home; just arrange a room for me to rest. Oh, the soundproofing must be good."

Zhou Yunyun: "Linlin, come, eat a fried dumpling."

Chen Lin took a bite of the fried dumpling, looked at Zhou Yunyun's expression, and asked in confusion: "You guys, haven't done that yet?"

"Cough, cough..." Tan Wenbin choked on his soy milk; it was rare to be asked so directly, and by a girl at that.

Zhou Yunyun blushed and lowered her head.

When they were together in the past, the two were very natural, but for some reason, after coming here, Linlin seemed like a different person.

Lin Shu You: "Adults need to know how to be responsible."

Chen Lin laughed: "It's a matter of mutual consent where both parties are happy; why make it sound like someone owes someone else? What an old-fashioned way of thinking."

Lin Shu You wanted to say something but stopped; he knew Brother Bin was worried about dying on the river and, out of responsibility to Zhou Yunyun, hadn't done that.

Tan Wenbin's eyes narrowed, his snake pupils fleeting, and he asked: "Then how many partners have you dated?"

Chen Lin shrugged: "Too many to count; I've only just become free recently. With Yunyun accompanying me, I'm not lonely anymore."

Tan Wenbin suppressed his laughter and lowered his head to eat his wontons; he had just checked, and the other party still carried the aura of a virgin, so this was no different from inexperienced boys in the dorm bragging about their romantic history.

Tan Wenbin finished first and went to pay the bill; Lin Shu You also ate quickly and followed him out.

"Brother Bin..."

"It's nothing, don't have any burden; anyway, we didn't see eye to eye."

Next, Tan Wenbin drove and took everyone to Zhou Yunyun's home.

Since they were back, they certainly had to visit her parents; even if Zhou Yunyun didn't need to visit, he, Tan Wenbin, had to come back to maintain favor.

The prospective father-in-law and mother-in-law were both working in the textile factory; when Zhou Yunyun's grandmother saw her granddaughter and the prospective grandson-in-law had come, she happily kicked the old man to the factory to call them back.

Then, she began to bustle about preparing food.

There was a butcher in the village who only went to town to sell in the evening; Grandma went to cut some meat, caught a chicken directly from the coop, and caught a fish from the pond behind their house.

Lunch was very lively; after the meal, Chen Lin started her afternoon nap—traveling at night was indeed tiring.

Tan Wenbin held Zhou Yunyun's hand and strolled around the village.

After walking until they were tired, the two sat by the small river and started talking.

Tan Wenbin talked about the interesting things he had seen while running projects everywhere; as he talked, Zhou Yunyun lay in his arms and fell asleep in the warm afternoon sun.

Gently brushing the hair from her cheek, Tan Wenbin hung a smile on his lips.

At this moment, he also sentimentally hoped that time could stand still forever.

Lin Shu You really had nothing to do; he couldn't go up to take an afternoon nap with them, nor could he follow Brother Bin for a stroll. Finally, he simply shouldered a hoe and went to the fields to work with Zhou Yunyun's grandfather.

This made Zhou Yunyun's grandfather feel troubled; it was clear the young man had an endless supply of strength, but the problem was, him working for his family was not justified by name.

Chen Lin slept until dusk, and Lin Shu You worked until dusk.

It left the old couple feeling very embarrassed.

Chen Lin walked out of the room and came to the second-floor balcony, where she could just see Lin Shu You busy in the fields.

She couldn't understand what Lin Shu You was doing there, but this scene looked quite interesting.

Chen Lin took a thimble from her pocket—silver, engraved with seven coiled pythons—and with a light flick of her fingertip, a thin needle stood up from the ring.

Chen Lin leaned her fingertip over, pricked it lightly, and then her whole body trembled, a touch of white appearing in her eyes.

After gazing around, she moved her fingertip away, the thin needle retracted, and the thimble was put back into her pocket.

"This Nantong... why is it so clean?"

In the field below.

Lin Shu You, who was doing farm work, stiffened, then turned to look.

Behind him was Zhou Yunyun's two-story house; on the second-floor balcony stood Chen Lin's figure.

The Master Tongzi Spirit's voice came from the bottom of his heart: "This is a Yin-Yang practitioner; this girl is a Yin-Yang practitioner."

Lin Shu You: "Why couldn't Brother Bin and I detect it at all earlier?"

Master Tongzi Spirit: "This is a branch of the Yin-Yang school—taking the Yin and walking the Yang, doing things with Yin and avoiding the world with Yang, self-severing karma. When she doesn't reveal her Yin side, looking only at the Yang side, one can only see a normal, ordinary person; there will be no flaws."

Lin Shu You: "Is she good or bad?"

Master Tongzi Spirit: "Do you think you're watching a TV drama, still distinguishing between good people and bad people?"

Lin Shu You: "I'm afraid Zhou Yunyun is in danger."

Master Tongzi Spirit: "There shouldn't be any danger. Tan Wenbin's river-walking merit can benefit his father, so a portion will certainly fall on Zhou Yunyun. Zhou Yunyun meeting her and staying with her means she can block some trouble for Zhou Yunyun. Besides, Zhou Yunyun herself is just an ordinary person; no one will specifically target her. Moreover, since she chose to interact with Zhou Yunyun using her Yang side, she is actually more afraid of getting involved in karma. This is indeed a good match for a date; Medium, you must seize the opportunity."

"What do you mean?"

"Her school also emphasizes bloodline inheritance; only through constant modification and repair by ancestors can the order of Yin and Yang be clear and traceless. You are a genius of the Official General Head, and paired with the Yin-Yang practitioner bloodline, the talent of the children born shouldn't be bad."

"Master Tongzi Spirit, you think really far ahead."

"I can exist for a very long time. You are certainly influenced by that Brother Xiaoyuan of yours and won't pursue methods to extend life; you can't possibly demand I be buried with you after you die, right? You have to leave me a high-quality carrier; if you really end your lineage, I will be even more pitiful than those lonely old people."

"Save it; we aren't each other's type."

Lin Shu You shouldered his hoe, intending to find Tan Wenbin to report this situation.

It happened that Tan Wenbin and Zhou Yunyun had returned; Lin Shu You walked up on his own, and after Zhou Yunyun greeted Lin Shu You, she ran back to her house to find Chen Lin.

After telling him the matter, Tan Wenbin touched his chin and said: "I accept the Master Tongzi Spirit's judgment. By the way, besides these, what else did the Master Tongzi Spirit say?"

Lin Shu You: "Nothing else."

The next moment, Lin Shu You's eyes began to constantly switch vertical pupils.

"Hehehe." Tan Wenbin was amused and said, "Is the Master Tongzi Spirit urging you to be more proactive and hardworking?"

Lin Shu You shook his head, but his vertical pupils were still struggling.

Tan Wenbin reached out and patted Lin Shu You's shoulder, saying earnestly:

"Master Tongzi Spirit, it's understandable to urge appropriately, but don't cross the line. Be careful, or A You will go to Brother Xiaoyuan to snitch; you wouldn't want another seal added inside A You's body, would you?"

The vertical pupils dissipated.

Tan Wenbin: "Let's go, time for dinner."

After dinner, Chen Lin suggested going to sing.

Although Shigang Town had the largest population and the richest commerce in the vicinity, it was still far from being comparable to the city.

However, activities like singing were only lively with many people, so Tan Wenbin first drove everyone back to Siyuan Village.

Brother Xiaoyuan and A Li certainly wouldn't go, but Mengmeng liked participating in such activities and loved to play.

The car turned from the village road onto the small path leading to Li Sanjiang's house; Tan Wenbin originally intended to let A You get out of the car to call Mengmeng out to ride together to the city.

However, Zhou Yunyun insisted that since they were here, they had to greet Grandpa Li.

There was no help for it; Tan Wenbin had to accompany her to get out of the car, and Chen Lin also followed and walked inside.

Li Sanjiang's family ate dinner later; at this moment, Qin Shu was carrying a bucket to water the flower garden.

"Qin Shu."

"Zhuangzhuang."

Tan Wenbin pointed in confusion at a newly planted area in the flower garden: "What happened here before?"

Qin Shu: "Changed the variety combination."

In fact, that day, Qin Shu had been swiped into the flower garden by the old lady's sword, crushing many flowers; these were newly planted.

"Who is this girl?" Qin Shu looked at Chen Lin.

Chen Lin took the initiative to introduce herself: "I am A You's ex-girlfriend."

Lin Shu You: "..."

Qin Shu smiled, nodded, and continued watering the flowers.

Chen Lin squatted down and reached out to gently touch the petals in front of her; although they were only budding, a special, faint fragrance was already diffusing.

The flowers were ordinary flowers, but the fragrance was not an ordinary fragrance.

Chen Lin looked at Qin Shu; if this was caused by the level of the gardener, then this person's level was simply too high, right?

Liu Yi was serving food to the table; seeing Tan Wenbin had returned, she said: "Yo, you didn't say you were coming back early."

Tan Wenbin: "We've eaten; we intend to call Mengmeng to go to the city to sing together."

Liu Yi: "Mengmeng is in the east room; go knock on the door."

Tan Wenbin: "Of course."

One really didn't dare to enter Yin Meng's room casually without knocking.

Because even Yin Meng herself couldn't ensure whether her room was safe.

After knocking on the door a few times, a sound of bottles and jars falling came from inside.

After a while, the door was opened, and Yin Meng asked in confusion: "Did the rules change? Do we have to greet each other again when we get home?"

"Going to sing or not?"

"When?"

"Right now."

"Going!"

Yin Meng walked out, closed the door, and then happily ran to the kitchen; after a while, she walked out even more happily and said to Tan Wenbin:

"Liu Yi is going too."

Liu Yi tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled: "Since I'm idle anyway, I'll go play with you guys."

Since walking onto the dam, Chen Lin's attention had been attracted by the boy and girl on the second-floor balcony.

At first, it was their image; although they were still young, their temperament and appearance were already transcendent.

Especially the girl's attire, which gave her a feeling of flipping through ancient paintings in the old mansion when she was a child; in this world, there was always a small group of people who could be free from the turbidity of the mundane world.

Immediately after, it was their movements; they were sitting on rattan chairs, their fingers constantly tapping in front of them, as if they were playing some kind of game.

Chen Lin: "What are they doing?"

Lin Shu You: "Playing chess."

Chen Lin: "Blind chess? But the chessboard isn't right."

Lin Shu You: "Playing three boards at once."

Chen Lin looked carefully again and found it was indeed so.

Li Zhuiyuan withdrew his hand, his gaze moved down and landed on Chen Lin.

The Yang side of the Yin-Yang practitioner was no different from an ordinary person, and it was impossible to probe from the aura, but in the gaze Chen Lin had just cast at him, there was a scrutiny of Feng Shui physiognomy.

Aura could be hidden, but some habits couldn't; she should have been lazy, wanting to distinguish what he was doing as quickly as possible and replicate the chessboard he was playing on.

Tan Wenbin trotted upstairs: "Brother Xiaoyuan."

In the corner of the balcony, Tan Wenbin made his report.

Li Zhuiyuan: "There should be no problem. If she is a Yin-Yang practitioner, I just observed her physiognomy; she should be cultivating the Great Yang side."

Tan Wenbin: "Great Yang side?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Taking the path of gathering Yin to supplement Yang."

Tan Wenbin: "Oh~"

Tan Wenbin didn't understand, and this "gathering Yin to supplement Yang" sounded really strange.

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's just accumulating merit through the Profound Gate to shape a secular body. People of this lineage cherish their own feathers more."

The Yin-Yang school had once flourished in history, but later gradually declined; a portion of the Yin-Yang practitioner inheritance entered the secular world, equivalent to another means of "farming and reading to pass on the family."

Li Zhuiyuan had once found a book called *Exquisite Interpretation of Yin-Yang Physiognomy* in the basement of Great-Grandfather's house; to a certain extent, the young man could also be counted as a Yin-Yang master.

Tan Wenbin: "It's just that A You doesn't like her type, and she didn't take a fancy to A You either."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Did the Master Tongzi Spirit urge him?"

Tan Wenbin: "It's okay, it only urged him twice, but the Master Tongzi Spirit still fully respected A You's opinion."

A Li sat on the rattan chair, her gaze also landing on Chen Lin.

On the dam, Chen Lin squatted down, clutching her stomach, looking very uncomfortable.

A Li's eyes could break through her Yang side and see her Yin side.

Chen Lin only felt a fire burning in her body; when she wasn't actively controlling it, her Yin side seemed to want to reveal itself. The more she tried to restrain it, the more uncomfortable her body became.

This feeling, was it like she was about to go into Qi deviation?

Therefore, there was no such thing as a perfect disguise in this world.

A Li had no malice; she was just habitually wanting to see through everyone who appeared in front of her.

Just like for so many years in the past, in her dreams, she watched one evil spirit after another disguise and intimidate in front of her.

To not be afraid and not be influenced by them, one had to see their essence clearly.

Li Sanjiang's voice came: "A You is back, eh? That Zhuangzhuang, Zhuangzhuang, where is he? Where is my Zhuangzhuang!"

Tan Wenbin: "Grandpa Li, Zhuangzhuang is here!"

Responding loudly while running quickly, Tan Wenbin rushed in front of Li Sanjiang.

"He's thin, why is he so thin!"

Li Sanjiang was heartbroken; the mule had lost weight.

Tan Wenbin: "The food outside isn't as good as at home; Grandpa Li, your home's food is delicious and nourishing."

"Hehehe, then I'll have Liu Yi make you more, properly nourish yourself. Eh, what's going on with your hair?"

"I dyed it myself; does it look good, Grandpa Li?"

"Good my ass; dyeing it white is worse than yellow; at least it looks spirited."

"Alright, I'll go to the town barbershop tomorrow and dye it a trendy yellow."

"What's wrong with this girl? Is she feeling unwell?"

Li Sanjiang noticed Chen Lin squatting on the ground, and Zhou Yunyun beside her was also making concerned inquiries.

Chen Lin just shook her head, signaling she was fine, but looking like this, where did she look fine?

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the edge of the balcony; after seeing this scene, he knew what had happened. He placed his hand on A Li's shoulder and patted it lightly.

A Li, you can't keep looking; if you keep looking, she's going to reveal her true form.

The girl broke away from her concentration and withdrew her gaze.

The uncomfortable, dry pain in Chen Lin's body disappeared. She let out a long sigh, stood up, and said to Zhou Yunyun: "It's fine, really, look, I'm fine."

Li Sanjiang asked: "Whose family is this girl from?"

Qin Shu carried the bucket back and replied: "Ex-girlfriend."

"What?" Li Sanjiang looked at Tan Wenbin, "Your ex-girlfriend?"

Lin Shu You hurriedly helped Brother Bin explain: "It's mine, no, not mine..."

Tan Wenbin introduced them, and Li Sanjiang finally understood everyone's relationship.

Li Sanjiang: "Oh, so ex-girlfriend means she didn't take a fancy to you, Youhou?"

Lin Shu You: "... Mm."

Li Sanjiang said to Chen Lin: "Girl, take another careful look; a mule with tender skin and meat that can still do a lot of work is rare in this world."

Chen Lin had a good impression of Li Sanjiang because it was only after the appearance of this old man that her symptoms of Qi deviation subsided.

"Grandpa, our two families are too far apart; it's not suitable."

Li Sanjiang: "Distance is not a problem; Youhou rarely goes home in Nantong either. Look, he's not someone who is attached to home."

Lin Shu You didn't go home often in the past, and now... he had a home he couldn't return to.

Having become a True Lord, he had factually severed ties with the Official General Head system.

Li Sanjiang continued: "Youhou's family conditions are quite good; they have temples and mountains. When the time comes, you can pour him more love potions, and won't both the person and the money be abducted by you to Wenzhou?"

Master Tongzi Spirit: "Right, right, right!"

Chen Lin: "That doesn't seem very good, does it?"

Li Sanjiang: "Sigh, what's not good about it? Aren't you Wenzhou people the best at doing business? This deal is worth it."

Master Tongzi Spirit: "Exactly, exactly!"

Lin Shu You now had the feeling of being in a livestock market; Grandpa Li was just short of rolling up his sleeves and counting the price with Chen Lin on his fingers.

Chen Lin didn't know how to respond either; for some reason, the free and easy spirit she was accustomed to couldn't be exerted in front of this old man.

Tan Wenbin took the initiative to resolve the siege and attract firepower: "Grandpa Li, Yunyun is here too."

Li Sanjiang glared at Tan Wenbin and asked back: "What's wrong? Do you want to sell her again? I'm telling you, I don't agree to this."

Tan Wenbin: "How could that be."

Li Sanjiang: "I'm telling you, Yunyun is such a good girl; being able to take a fancy to you is the blessing of you white-haired brat."

Tan Wenbin: "Mm, that's right."

Li Sanjiang looked at Zhou Yunyun and asked: "I heard that one can also get a marriage certificate and have children while in college?"

Zhou Yunyun: "Ah?"

Li Sanjiang: "Get the certificate as early as you can, have children if you can, preferably twins directly. Look, Zhuangzhuang's father is now being promoted like riding a rocket. We have to hurry up too; doesn't the TV play it like that? Once the status is high, they will break up the lovers and engage in some political marriage."

Although Zhou Yunyun was very shy, she could hear the old man's concern and protection for her.

Tan Wenbin: "Grandpa Li, you eat first; we've eaten, and now we're going to the city to sing. Are you going?"

Li Sanjiang: "Then you guys go; how could I possibly go."

A group of people left; there were too many people, so Yin Meng also drove the small pickup truck.

Tan Wenbin knocked on Yin Meng's car window.

Yin Meng rolled down the window and asked: "What's wrong?"

"Many people make it lively; go to Big Hu Zi's house and ask Lihua if she wants to go, then ask Xiao Yingying; she likes to sing."

"Oh, okay."

Yin Meng drove the truck onto the village road and asked in confusion: "Is it inappropriate to bring Xiao Yingying along?"

Liu Yi, sitting in the back seat, said: "It's fine; that girl isn't a pushover either."

Yin Meng: "Then they didn't know? Or did they know but didn't tell me?"

Liu Yi: "They probably thought it was harmless."

The small pickup truck drove to the outside of Big Hu Zi's house, and Yin Meng went down to call people.

Lihua agreed very readily, and Xiao Yingying also agreed, temporarily handing Benben over to Xiong Shan.

Xiong Shan teased his son, but Benben turned his head away; he wasn't familiar with this biological father.

One person and one dead-turned-alive walked very lightly following Yin Meng to the car; when they got close and saw Liu Yi sitting in the car, both slowed their steps.

Liu Yi: "Sigh, it seems I shouldn't have gone; it spoiled your mood."

Lihua and Xiao Yingying immediately opened the car doors quickly and got in.

Xiong Shan held the child, stood on the dam, looked at the crowd in the car, and couldn't help but lower his head and say to the unfamiliar biological son in his arms:

"Your mom must be happy to death now."

Benben: "Hehehe."

On the dam at home, those who didn't go to sing were eating.

Liu Yumei sat alone at the small round table and said to Li Sanjiang: "How can you be an elder like this, urging everyone to get married and have children? Do you really treat people like mules?"

Li Sanjiang wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, glanced at Li Zhuiyuan and A Li eating together, and didn't refute.

Was he urging others? He also wanted to urge his own family, but those mules were all adults, while his own weren't still young?

After the meal, Liu Yumei took A Li back to the room to bathe.

A while ago, when she was the eldest lady of the Liu family, she sat in the wooden tub herself and let A Li add hot water for her.

Every once in a while, a "Sister, the water is cold," "Sister, spread some more flower petals."

A Li really listened; whatever she asked her to do, she did.

Now, looking at A Li sitting in the wooden tub, Liu Yumei couldn't help but laugh:

"Come, sit well; Sister will help you bathe."

A Li turned her head, glanced at Grandma, and turned back.

Liu Yumei, standing behind, could see her granddaughter's reflection from the water surface floating with petals; the girl smiled.

A group of people entered the karaoke room; Tan Wenbin booked a private room and ordered many beers and fruit platters.

At first, for various reasons, everyone was a bit reserved, but gradually, the scene gradually became lively.

Liu Yi had a very good voice, and she sang very well; there was a professional feeling to it, making Chen Lin unable to help but praise and look sideways.

You know, when they first met, this woman was wearing an apron and cooking for the whole family.

Tan Wenbin ordered a song "Thousand Thousand Songs" for Xiao Yingying, purely to reminisce about the golden hits Brother Xiaoyuan had listened to back then.

Thinking that Brother Xiaoyuan had been possessed by Little Huang Ying while listening to this song, Tan Wenbin couldn't help but want to laugh.

It's just that this little bad taste could only be enjoyed secretly by himself and couldn't be shared.

Then, Tan Wenbin specifically ordered a song that was very popular at the moment; after ordering, he handed a microphone to Chen Lin and handed the other microphone to Lin Shu You.

Lin Shu You refused: "Brother Bin, I can't sing."

Since entering here, Lin Shu You had been sitting properly on the side and hadn't sung a single song.

Tan Wenbin: "It's okay, you definitely know this one."

After the accompaniment sounded, Lin Shu You looked at the screen and found that he did indeed know it.

Chen Lin pointed at Lin Shu You very generously: "Come, ex-boyfriend, let's do it together!"

The sound of their duet followed:

"Don't complain when you lose your ambition for a moment, don't be afraid when you are down and out... Love to fight to win!"

(End of chapter)

It's just that this little quirk of mine is something I can only enjoy in secret; I can't share it.

Then, Tan Wenbin specially requested a song that was very popular at the moment. After requesting it, he handed one microphone to Chen Lin and passed the other to Lin Shu You.

Lin Shu You refused: "Brother Bin, I don't know how to sing."

Ever since entering this place, Lin Shu You had been sitting properly on the side, not having sung a single song.

Tan Wenbin: "It's fine, you definitely know this one."

After the accompaniment started, Lin Shu You looked at the screen and discovered that he did indeed know it.

Chen Lin very generously pointed at Lin Shu You: "Come on, ex-boyfriend, let's do it together!"

The sound of the two of them singing in chorus rose up:

"When you're down on your luck, there's no need to sigh; when you're at your lowest, there's no need to be afraid... Only by striving hard will you win!"

(End of chapter)