Chapter 475: How Could the Ancestors

Mountain God Temple.

Under the guidance of Cao Nainai, the Zhang Family and the Wang Family party squeezed through the crowded throng.

Even though the square outside the Mountain God Temple was filled with one crowd after another of Zhang Family Village villagers and villagers from neighboring villages watching the spectacle, when Cao Nainai announced her family name…

When they learned that the visitors were the family of the new Mountain God of Shizi Ling, Zhang Deben, who had come to attend Zhang Deben's ascension ceremony, the crowded surrounding throng dispersed to both sides.

Leaving only a narrow human-shaped passage barely wide enough for one or two people to pass, which finally allowed the Zhang Family and the Wang Family to enter the interior of the Mountain God Temple.

"Mother, you finally came!"

Inside the Mountain God Temple, the host Zhang Chengze, upon seeing Li Ping and her party, had his eyes instantly light up.

He hurried over, about to say something, when his peripheral vision caught a familiar silhouette beside Liu Dongzhu; the words at his mouth were swallowed back, and after a close look he wondered whether he had imagined it.

Zhang Chengze quickly rubbed his eyes, his voice trembling as he asked in surprise:

"Dongzhu, I—I—I remember you told me that your family, your family's Ping'an was only a few months old when he—how did he learn to walk? You didn't teach him, did you?"

"Brother Chengze, I didn't teach him; our Ping'an learned it himself!"

Liu Dongzhu let out a chuckle, her face full of pride; although she hadn't seen how their Ping'an learned to walk, she said:

"Not only walking, but even crawling, he learned on his own, without any teaching from me. I believe that in no time, our Ping'an may even learn to speak by himself!"

Zhang Chengze opened his mouth to rebut, for speaking is not a simple matter; it requires a parent's careful words to let a child gradually learn. Yet thinking of Wang Ping'an's situation, the words at his lips still could not be spoken, so he changed his tone:

"Your Ping'an might truly learn to speak on his own!"

He believed Liu Dongzhu would not deceive him over such a trivial matter; since Liu Dongzhu said her Ping'an learned both crawling and walking by himself, then it must indeed be self‑taught.

Wang Ping'an, with such a terrifying talent, learning to speak on his own is not a hard thing to accept.

A few days ago, at Baihu, Lv Qianhu took an interest in Ping'an and wanted to take him as a disciple; even the monster said to be the chief of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan wished to make Ping'an their son‑in‑law, which shows that Ping'an is unlike ordinary infants.

What ordinary infants cannot do does not mean Ping'an cannot.

Li Ping's eyes were sharp; she instantly noticed a fleeting regret in Zhang Chengze's gaze and teased:

"Chengze, these past days I've seen you have an unusual fondness for Ping'an; do you secretly want a son and a daughter?"

"Mother, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Zhang Chengze's face flushed; although his mother had seen through his thoughts, he could not admit it, lest his wife suffer, perhaps feeling guilty for ten days and half a month, after which he would have to console her. He hurriedly denied:

"I'm still young; I don't need children now. My priority is to take good care of our family. When Chengyong finds a wife, as for my child with Lancui, destiny will bring it when the time comes!"

Zhang Chengyong grinned mischously: "Big brother, don't shift the topic onto me. First think about how you'll be a competent father when you become a dad; otherwise, I, as the uncle, will be the first one not to let you off!"

Actually.

What he meant was to warn his older brother, using Wang Ruhai's incident, not to act like a despicable animal; although they grew up together and his brother knew him well, there's an old saying: you can know a person's appearance but not their heart.

Back then, Wang Ruhai seemed so pure in his presence, often praising Liu Dongzhu, but when this bastard went to the capital for the imperial exam and became a top scholar, didn't he then act like a despicable animal? Just…

Bringing this up could easily hurt Liu Dongzhu, so he could only wait to speak to his older brother privately.

Regarding his sister‑in‑law Zhu Lancui, he was very satisfied; whenever there was something good at home, his sister‑in‑law would think of him, and he didn't want his older brother to do anything that would betray her.

"Chengyong, what are you talking about?"

Zhang Chengze spoke subconsciously, his words unfinished, when his peripheral vision caught Zhang Chengyong's teasing expression, his whole body trembled, a flash of insight flickered then vanished in his mind. He hurriedly looked up at Zhu Lancui, suppressing his inner agitation, and, trembling, asked:

"Lancui, you… you… you didn't… did you?"

Zhu Lancui shyly nodded.

"Good, good, good…"

Zhang Chengze was instantly overjoyed, his words still unfinished, when an elderly man dressed as a peasant farmer walked over and asked:

"Chengze, is there some joyous occasion?"

"Village Chief, I'm going to become a father!"

Zhang Chengze replied.

"This novel you..."

"Good, good, good, it's a tremendous good thing!"

Zhang Yongde was startled for a moment, then recovered, a hint of joy appearing on his face. Since Zhang Chengze and Zhu Lancui had been married for several years yet had no son or daughter—a rarity in Zhang Family Village—now that Zhu Lancui was pregnant, Zhang Chengze becoming a father was indeed a good thing, and he said:

"Your father has become the Mountain God of Shizi Ling, and now you're about to be a father; your family truly has double blessings. However, Lancui is newly pregnant, and the crowded Mountain God Temple could easily jostle her—early pregnancy is most prone to miscarriage. Why not, Chengze, escort Lancui back first? After all, the ascension ceremony of your father is still a long way off."

He was the Village Chief of Zhang Family Village and had had some friction with Zhang Deben over the years, especially since Zhang Deben was widely beloved throughout the village. He worried that if Zhang Deben developed inappropriate ambitions for the Village Chief position, what could he do?

Seize.

He feared he couldn't outcompete Zhang Deben, yet he would reluctantly step down from the chief's post and let Zhang Deben take over, which left him unwilling.

Fortunately, Zhang Deben never explicitly expressed any intention for the Village Chief role, but because villagers often used Zhang Deben to confront him, it was impossible for him not to have thoughts about Zhang Deben.

These were merely minor issues, at least not openly tearing the relationship apart.

This time.

Zhang Deben becoming the Mountain God of Shizi Ling made him a bit envious, yet not jealous. He knew his own limits; even serving as Zhang Family Village's chief was already a stretch. If the chief position weren't a hereditary legacy he couldn't discard, he would gladly let Zhang Deben take it. Now that Zhang Deben is the Mountain God of Shizi Ling, a monumental joy for the whole village, how could he possibly be jealous?

He was genuinely happy for Zhang Deben and Zhang Family Village!

Before.

Even with some friction with Zhang Deben, he would at least never show a sour face before Zhang Deben's child, since they share the same ancestors and Zhang Deben's child is his junior.

Now that Zhang Deben is the Mountain God of Shizi Ling, he certainly won't show a sour face before Zhang Deben's child.

(End of Chapter)