Chapter 324: Grandma Cao Steps In

Zhang Chengyong could not wait and said, "Big brother, now that our father has become the Mountain God of Shizi Ling, shouldn't we quickly renovate our village's Mountain God Temple so that our father can settle in peacefully?"

Zhang Guihua sneered, "Chengyong, didn't you just say you didn't believe your father could become the Mountain God of Shizi Ling?"

"It's not that… It's just that Shizi Ling hasn't had a Mountain God for who knows how many years. Little sister, when you say that, I can't accept it for a moment!"

Zhang Chengyong let out a heh‑heh laugh; being mocked by his little sister, he felt no embarrassment at all—indeed, he was eager for such a slap to happen again, and urged:

"Big brother, stop standing there; say something quickly!"

"Daughter‑in‑law, you haven't slept all night, and now my father startled you awake again; go back and get some rest. I'm here, nothing serious will happen, so you may rest."

Zhang Chengze did not rush to reply to Zhang Chengyong, but instead gave a command to the nearby Zhu Lancui. After Zhu Lancui nodded and left, he finally spoke:

"What's the hurry? Rebuilding the Mountain God Temple can wait; the most urgent matter now is to settle our father's after‑life affairs properly!"

"Chengze is right; the top priority now is to arrange your father's funeral properly!"

Cao Nainai nodded and said, "Leave the rebuilding of the Mountain God Temple to me; I'll go tell the Village Chief and have him help with the reconstruction!"

Zhang Chengze worried, "Cao Nainai, our family and the Village Chief's family have a conflict; if you ask him for help, knowing the temple is being rebuilt for my father, will he agree?"

Their families and the Village Chief's family aren't in any major feud, just basic neighborhood disputes; a trivial matter has kept them silent for years. This time, with their father gone, the Village Chief finally came to their house.

Zhang Family Village has always been a poor village; they have little money, and the Mountain God Temple is a luxury they can barely afford. If the Village Chief learns the reconstruction is for their father, he'll hardly agree.

The conflict in their family stems from their father and the Village Chief!

"If De Ben truly becomes the Mountain God of Shizi Ling, it would be a tremendous boon for all of Zhang Family Village; even if he refuses, he can't help but agree!"

Cao Nainai snorted coldly; she naturally knew that Zhang Deben's family and the Village Chief's family had a conflict, otherwise she wouldn't have suggested that she speak to the Village Chief about this.

Zhang Chengze said, "Cao Nainai, when you talk to the Village Chief, make it clear that the temple's reconstruction is for my father, and the money needed will be provided by our family!"

"No way!"

Cao Nainai shook her head, understanding Zhang Chengze's good intentions; if his family paid, she wouldn't need to intervene and the Village Chief would agree to the reconstruction, she said:

"This isn't just your family's matter; with De Ben becoming the Mountain God of Shizi Ling, it benefits the entire Zhang Family Village, so the money should be contributed by the whole village!"

Zhang Chengze said seriously, "Cao Nainai, let's not quibble over this trivial issue. All the uncles and elders have it hard; they barely grow enough grain all year and have to work hard for money, yet still earn very little."

"We can't let the rebuilding of the Mountain God Temple add to their burdens; the money will still be paid by our family!"

"Chengze…"

Cao Nainai was about to say something, but before she finished, Zhang Chengze cut in, "Cao Nainai, it's settled then; if it doesn't work, the Mountain God Temple is better left unrepaired!"

"Fine!"

Cao Nainai said no more, turned and hurried toward the Village Chief's house.

After Cao Nainai left, Zhang Chengyong spoke, "Big brother, our family doesn't have much money left!"

In their family, the biggest expense in the past was always on them; because they are poor in literary pursuits but rich in martial arts, their yearly training consumes a huge amount of money, and if Shizi Ling were not a good place with many heavenly talents and earthly treasures, the money they would need to spend could double—no, quadruple to five times.

Can their family even afford his training?

Now.

His father just passed; to let his father depart peacefully and grandly, the items they provided for his father were the best—uncomparable to ordinary families or even wealthy households.

That was a huge expense; there is no extra money left to rebuild the Mountain God Temple.

Zhang Guihua laughed, "No problem, little sister; I have money here, so when the temple is rebuilt I'll just pay!"

"Little sister, our family has money; we can still afford the temple's reconstruction!"

Zhang Chengze declined his little sister's generosity, secretly glared at Zhang Chengyong, muttering that the dog‑thing never knows how to speak—whether they have money or not, shouldn't be saying that at this time.

Fortunately.

Since it's his little sister in person, if it were others—especially his second aunt's family—they might be subjected to cold ridicule from his second aunt's family.

"Chengze, what are you saying? My big brother became the Mountain God; as his sister, is there anything wrong with me paying for my brother's temple reconstruction?"

Zhang Guihua complained dissatisfiedly.

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"Little sister, look at what you said; what's wrong with that? Of course it's right!"

Zhang Chengze again silently glared at Zhang Chengyong, shifted his gaze, and changed the subject: "Little sister, you say my father has been sending dreams to you and Lancui in succession; could he also send a dream to my mother?"

"Of course…"

Zhang Guihua hadn't finished speaking, seemed to recall something, and angrily said, "What, you don't believe what my daughter‑in‑law and I say?"

"Little sister, to be honest, if only you or my family's Lancui said it, I would never believe it, because the matter is too far‑fetched, although I've heard it happened before!"

Zhang Chengze didn't hold back, speaking directly, and voiced all his thoughts, saying:

"But little sister, since both you and my daughter‑in‑law say so, even if the matter is rather far‑fetched, I believe it must be true."

【48】 "I think, my mother these days, since my father passed, has been weeping constantly and can't even sleep; if she dreams of my father, perhaps she could finally have a peaceful sleep!"

Their family's biggest cash outlay has always been on him; being poor in literature but rich in martial arts, his yearly training consumes a huge amount of money. If Shizi Ling weren't a good place with many natural treasures, the expenses he needs could double—no, quadruple or quintuple.

There was another thing he didn't dare voice: given his mother's current condition, he was very worried; his father's funeral had just been completed, and his mother had already collapsed.

It's not that he hadn't tried to counsel his mother; his whole family and even nearby relatives had urged her, but it was useless—she still couldn't sleep.

"No wonder, from last night until just now, I've felt your mother's condition was off!"

Zhang Guihua, hearing that, was startled, and hurriedly said, "Why are you still standing there? Go quickly, tell your mother this, so she can have a peaceful sleep!"

Zhang Chengyong, passing by like a clump of sludge, collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, the Zhang Guilian family watching their wretched appearance almost couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

Zhang Chengyong, suppressing his laughter with great effort, hurriedly said, "Big brother, should we call out to the second aunt and the others?"

(End of chapter)