Chapter 355

Not long ago.

Translation: "Not long ago."

His family was walking around in circles; at that time, he didn't even realize he was going in circles, nor did he know how his parents were—he only knew he had been walking in the Zhang family courtyard, when suddenly his vision blurred and he found himself in a place filled with birdsong and floral fragrance; just as he was bewildered, an extraordinarily beautiful figure appeared.

Make sure to keep all info.

Without exaggeration, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life; just one glance and his soul was stolen.

Translation: "It's no exaggeration to say she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life; just a single glance from her stole his soul."

At the woman's call, he hesitated not at all and gave chase, but no matter how he ran, she remained just a step away, as if a little more effort would be enough to grasp her fair, delicate jade‑like hand.

Translation: "Under the woman's call, he hesitated not at all and gave chase, but no matter how he ran, the woman remained just a step away, as if a little more effort would be enough to grasp her fair, tender jade hand."

He pursued her tirelessly…

Translation: "He pursued tirelessly…"

Until his strength gave out and he collapsed like a puddle of mud, only then did he recover.

Translation: "Until his strength was exhausted, he collapsed like a puddle of mud, and only then did he recover."

He realized he was actually still in the Zhang family courtyard, not in that birdsong‑and‑floral‑scented place; the woman who had lured him had never existed.

Translation: "He realized he was not in a place of birdsong and floral fragrance at all—he was still in the Zhang family courtyard—and the very woman who had lured him into pursuit had never appeared."

From the words of the Zhang family and the ignorant villagers watching the spectacle, he learned that during this time he and his parents had been going in circles, letting those bastards watch for amusement, with no one stepping in to stop them.

Translation: "From the mouths of the Zhang family and the ignorant villagers watching the spectacle, he learned that during this period he and his parents had been walking in circles on the spot, letting that bunch of bastards watch the fun, and not a single person stepped forward to stop them."

At that moment he was furious, almost bursting out with curses…

Translation: "At that time he was furious, almost bursting out with a tirade…"

Of course.

Translation: "Of course."

He didn't shout it out, not out of respect for elders or love for the young, but because he saw Zhang Chengyong's hostile gaze and realized this guy was a brawny simpleton; if he dared to insult him to his face, that brute would surely lay hands on him.

Translation: "He didn't shout it out, not because he respected the elderly and loved the young, but because he saw Zhang Chengyong's hostile gaze, knowing this guy was a brawny simpleton; if he dared to scold someone in front of Zhang Chengyong, that dog would surely lay hands on him."

He'd surely get a beating!

Translation: "A beating was inevitable!"

He swallowed his resentment, planning to leave this poor, backwater place that embarrassed him once his parents had regained a bit of strength.

Translation: "He suppressed his resentment, planning to wait for his parents to regain a little strength, then leave this poor, remote place that made him lose face."

What about his uncle's funeral?

Translation: "As for his uncle's funeral?"

Whoever wants to attend can do so; anyway, he's just a poor ghost who can't offer any benefit, let alone share an inheritance—dead is dead.

Translation: "Whoever wants to attend can attend; anyway he's just a poor wretch who can't offer him any benefit, and certainly couldn't give him a share of the family property—dead is dead."

Who knows.

Translation: "Who would have known."

During his rest, he learned from idle chatter among the ignorant villagers that although his uncle had died, he had somehow struck incredible luck, catching the eye of King Yama, who appointed him as the mountain god of Lion's Ridge.

Translation: "During his rest, he learned from the idle chatter of the ignorant villagers that although his uncle had lost his life, he had somehow stumbled upon dogshit luck and was actually favored by the Yama King, who arranged for his uncle to become the mountain god of Lion Ridge."

At first.

Translation: "At first."

He scoffed at the claim; as an educated man, he knew that neither a mountain deity nor a land god is a position just anyone can claim.

Translation: "Faced with this claim, he scoffed; as an educated man he clearly knew that neither a mountain god nor a land god is something just anyone can qualify for."

His uncle?

Translation: "His uncle?"

A poor hunter with no skills; without his family's support, they might have been ruined and starved to death, and this heartless older cousin of his might not even be able to afford a wife.

Translation: "A poor hunter with no skills—if not for his family's support, he might have already been ruined and starved to death; this ungrateful older cousin of his might not even be able to afford a wife."

Could he possibly become the new mountain god of Lion's Ridge?

Translation: "Could he possibly become the new mountain god of Lion Ridge?"

That's outright ridiculous!

Translation: "That's nothing short of a joke!"

Until he learned that Zhang Chengyong had gone to the county seat and summoned the renowned Luo Liang Luo Immortal Official of Qingyang County, and supposedly also a commander from the Demon‑Suppressing Office; only then did he faintly believe that his cheap uncle might truly have become the new mountain god of Lion's Ridge.

Translation: "Until he learned that Zhang Chengyong had made a trip to the county seat and invited the renowned Luo Liang, Immortal Official of Qingyang County, and supposedly also a battalion commander from the Demon-Suppressing Office; only then did he faintly believe that his cheap uncle might truly have become the newly appointed mountain god of Lion Ridge."

Perhaps.

Translation: "Perhaps."

His family's ordeal of being toyed with in the Zhang family courtyard, going in circles, might have been the work of that cheap uncle of his.

Translation: "His family's encounter with trickery in the Zhang family courtyard, walking in circles on the spot, might very well have been the work of this cheap uncle of his."

"You see, does this adult's appearance look like someone who could solve the monster that has occupied Lion's Ridge for over a hundred years?"

Translation: "\"Look at that Immortal Official's appearance—does he look like someone who could solve the monster that has occupied Lion Ridge for over a hundred years? \""

Du Guan took a close look at the approaching Yu Die, seeing her disheveled state, his face and eyes full of disappointment.

Translation: "Du Guan took a close look at the approaching Yu Die, seeing her desolate state, his face and eyes full of disappointment."

"Hasn't he solved the monster that occupies Lion's Ridge?"

Translation: "\"Didn't solve the monster occupying Lion Ridge? \""

Du Wenxuan first stared, then as if realizing something, he shouted with delight, "Good, good, good…" followed by a slap.

Translation: "Du Wenxuan first froze, then as if thinking of something, he exclaimed joyfully: \"Good, good, good…\" \"Slap! \"

Du Guan slapped Du Wenxuan on the head again, angrily interrupting, "What good is good? This adult failed to solve the monster on Lion's Ridge—how could your uncle possibly succeed as its mountain god?"

Translation: "Du Guan slapped Du Wenxuan's head again, angrily interrupting: \"What's good about 'good'? What's good about it? This Immortal Official failed to settle the monster on Lion Ridge—how could your uncle possibly succeed in becoming its mountain god? \""

"Dad, you don't really think my cheap uncle becoming the mountain god of Lion's Ridge would benefit our family, do you?"

Translation: "\"Dad, you wouldn't think my cheap uncle becoming the mountain god of Lion Ridge would benefit our family, would you? \""

Du Wenxuan snorted coldly, recalling how not long ago he had been toyed with by that cheap uncle at the Zhang household, filling him with rage, he said angrily:

Translation: "Du Wenxuan snorted coldly, recalling how not long ago he had been toyed with by this cheap uncle at the Zhang household, his belly full of anger, he said angrily:"

"Dad, what kind of person is this cheap uncle of mine? You know better than I—our family has been supporting him for years; how have they been doing? Have you really forgotten?"

Translation: "\"Dad, what sort of thing is this cheap uncle of mine? You know better than I do—our family has supported him for years, how have they behaved? Have you really forgotten? \""

They're nothing but white‑eyed wolves!

Translation: "\"His whole family are white-eyed wolves! \""

Even if my cheap uncle truly became the mountain god of Lion's Ridge, he wouldn't think of us for any good—indeed, his family might end up riding on our heads and defecating!

Translation: "\"Even if my cheap uncle truly became the mountain god of Lion Ridge, any good fortune wouldn't cross his mind for us—quite likely his family would still ride on our heads and defecate! \""

What do you know!

Translation: "\"You don't understand anything! \""

Du Guan snorted coldly.

Translation: "Du Guan snorted coldly."

Who is Zhang Deben—how could he not know?

Translation: "\"What kind of person is De Ben—how could he not know? \""

Back then, if it hadn't been for Zhang Deben's care, how could their family have gotten ahead? He admits that his own success came not only from his own efforts but also greatly from Zhang Deben's early help.

Translation: "\"Back then, if it weren't for De Ben's care, how could our family have risen? He admits that his own success came not only from his own effort but also largely from De Ben's early help. \""

Early on.

Translation: "\"Early on. \""

This novel you have reached.

This line seems incomplete or maybe a placeholder. It says "This novel you have reached". Likely a cut-off.

Without Zhang Deben's help, he could still succeed with his own abilities, but he couldn't have become successful so quickly—at the very least he would have had to waste several years of effort.

Translation: "\"Without De Ben's help, with his abilities he could still become wealthy, but it would be impossible to get rich this quickly—at the very least he'd have to waste several years of effort. \""

He resented Zhang Deben's two sons for being money‑grubbing, even though he wasn't withholding payment; they sold the game they hunted to other merchants simply because those merchants offered a slightly higher price.

Translation: "\"He resents that De Ben's two sons are money‑grubbing, even though he isn't withholding money; they sell the game they hunt to other merchants simply because others offer a slightly higher price? \""

He forgot they were relatives—shouldn't relatives help each other?

Translation: "\"He forgets they are relatives—shouldn't relatives help each other? \""

"Yes, I don't understand—Father, tell me, if my cheap uncle really did become the mountain god of Lion's Ridge, what benefit could it bring our family?"

Translation: "\"Yes, I don't understand—dad, tell me, if my cheap uncle really did become the mountain god of Lion Ridge, what benefit could he bring to our family? \""

Du Wenxuan scoffed, "Is it supposed to help me marry a beautiful wife, or to arrange an easy, well‑paid, promising job for me?"

Translation: "Du Wenxuan scoffed: \"Is it to help me marry a beautiful wife, or to set me up with an easy, well‑paid, promising job? \""

"All you know is wanting a beautiful wife!"

Translation: "\"All you know is marrying a beautiful wife! \""

Du Guan shouted in anger, feeling resentful—he himself couldn't even marry a beautiful woman, yet this brat constantly dreams of marrying a beautiful wife.

Translation: "Du Guan shouted angrily, feeling deeply displeased—he himself couldn't even marry a beautiful wife, yet this little brat constantly dreams of marrying a beautiful wife, he said furiously:"

"You little brat, you're still young and don't understand—Lion's Ridge is a treasure trove full of riches; once your uncle becomes its mountain god, won't all those treasures belong to our family? Once we make money, why would you still worry about finding a wife or a job?"

Translation: "\"You little brat, you're still young, you don't get it—Lion Ridge is a treasure trove full of riches; once your uncle becomes its mountain god, won't all those treasures belong to our family? When we make money, will you still need to worry about marrying a wife or finding work? \""

Since learning that Zhang Deben had somehow struck incredible luck and become the mountain god of Lion's Ridge, his attitude toward Zhang Deben and the Zhang family underwent a complete reversal.

Translation: "\"Since learning that De Ben, who knows what dogshit luck he walked into, had become the mountain god of Lion Ridge, his attitude toward De Ben and even the Zhang family has undergone a complete turnaround. \""

Originally.

Translation: "\"Originally. \""

He was deeply dissatisfied; the way the Zhang family treated him just now, and even when he was being toyed with, he saw no Zhang family member step in to help, so he planned to find a chance to leave.

Translation: "\"He was quite dissatisfied; just now the Zhang family's attitude toward him, and when he was being toyed with, he didn't see a single Zhang family member step forward to help him, so he was preparing to find a chance to leave. \""

What about Zhang Deben's funeral?

Translation: "\"As for De Ben's funeral? \""

Even if he were to abandon his profitable business just to come and take a look at Zhang Deben, that would already be a great honor—but the Zhang family themselves throw away face, so it's not his fault.

Translation: "\"He could abandon his money‑making business just to come take a look at De Ben—that already gives De Ben great face; but the Zhang family themselves throw away face, so it's not his fault. \""

Who would have thought…

Translation: "\"Never would have thought…\""

Upon learning that Zhang Deben had become the mountain god of Lion's Ridge—from initial doubt to eventual certainty—as a businessman with a keen sense for profit, he could easily see what benefits Zhang Deben's new position would bring him.

Translation: "\"Upon learning that De Ben had become the mountain god of Lion Ridge, from initial doubt to later certainty, as a businessman he has a keen sense for profit; a little thought reveals what benefits De Ben's appointment as mountain god would bring him. \""

In this situation, how could he possibly leave the Zhang family? Even if they tried to drive him out, he wouldn't go.

Translation: "\"In this situation, how could he possibly leave the Zhang family? Even if they drove him out, he wouldn't go. \""

If he left, wouldn't this lucrative business just end up benefiting outsiders?

Translation: "\"If he left, wouldn't that money‑making venture just become a bargain for outsiders? \""

(End of chapter)