Chapter 187: with translation of chapter title

Wang Congwen thought that with his looks, a little grooming would...

Isn't it easy to win over a village girl?

But it's a pity.

Zhong Xiao Mei merely glanced at him, then turned and walked aside to sweep the snow that had fallen in front of the door, causing his smile to stiffen involuntarily.

Fortunately, Zhong Kui stepped forward, took him inside for a detailed talk, which made him less awkward.

Indoors.

Zhong Kui first praised, saying: "Brother Wang, you are outstanding in appearance and your family is illustrious..."

But he then shook his head: "My little sister is still young and has no thoughts of marriage yet."

Wang Congwen heard his refusal, did not press further, merely showed disappointment on his face, and sighed:

"I was the one who was presumptuous."

"However," he changed tone: "Please don't decline the gift I brought today; consider it my token of goodwill."

"My Wang family is big and prosperous; these are nothing." Wang Congwen said sincerely:

"But Brother Zhong, you will need travel funds for your upcoming exams."

"Please accept it, Brother Zhong, as a token of our friendship, how about that?"

Zhong Kui immediately shook his head: "Absolutely not! I appreciate your good intentions, Brother Wang, but please take these back."

He spoke solemnly: "As for friends..."

"If Brother Wang were not the sort of bully who oppresses men and women, runs rampant, a dissolute young master, what harm would there be in my having more friends?"

Hearing this, Wang Congwen finally smiled: "Please rest assured, Brother Zhong; everyone knows that aside from being a bit playful, I, Wang Congwen, never do anything to bully the common folk?!"

"I even often do good deeds to build up my reputation!"

He patted his chest, half-joking, half-serious, and said:

"I'm a good guy!"

Zhong Kui merely nodded: "That's fine."

After chatting a bit more about other matters, Wang Congwen happily agreed to stay for a meal.

His true purpose was to see Yu Lin, but Yu Lin is not here now, so he naturally ought to stay a while longer.

He also didn't feel comfortable directly asking Zhong Kui, fearing the latter would think he had ulterior motives.

Fortunately, not long after, Yu Lin, who had gone out, returned carrying a basket.

Wang Congwen, sitting at the doorway, saw Zhong Xiao Mei, who had just been cold toward him, immediately put down her work, hopped over, and greeted him with a bright smile:

"Big Brother Yu, you're back!"

Such different treatment—truly worlds apart!

Wang Congwen watched Zhong Xiao Mei's warm attitude toward Yu Lin, then recalled her coldness toward him earlier, and couldn't help thinking, "Comparing people makes one angry to death!"

After taking another careful look at Yu Lin, his appearance is not bad, his build is passable, the only thing is...

Wang Congwen felt that if he were to fight Yu Lin, he'd likely be killed with a single punch.

This is not merely an intuitive sense of physique difference; it stems from the most primal biological instinct.

This is what a Qi practitioner is?!

Yu Lin handed the basket in his hand to Zhong Xiao Mei, smiling:

"I bought some pastries; try them."

"Okay, thank you, Big Brother Yu!"

After Zhong Xiao Mei took the pastries inside, Yu Lin then stepped before Zhong Kui and himself, showing surprise as he asked:

"Are you the one from yesterday?"

Wang Congwen hastily cupped his hands in salute: "I am Wang Congwen; the matchmaker mentioned our marriage a few days ago, and today I came specially to pay a visit."

"We meet again."

Yu Lin nodded and replied: "Quite a coincidence."

Hearing this, Wang Congwen also put on a surprised expression:

"Brother Yu, could it be... could it be that you are the Yu Lin from yesterday? The Qi practitioner Yu Lin?"

Yu Lin sat down in the chair and casually said: "If there's no one else, then it must be me."

"Could it be that you also want to come to me for study?"

"........" Seeing him directly voice what he had in mind, Wang Congwen, being thick-skinned, likewise laughed directly:

"Well... becoming an immortal and attaining longevity is naturally what everyone wants; I, too, am a common man, so if Brother Yu is willing, I would certainly want to study..."

"Hehe."

"Like this." Yu Lin gave a slight nod, leaning back in his chair:

"Please come forward."

Wang Complied, stepping forward and bending over.

Then he saw Yu Lin's hand tap his head three times, after which Yu Lin closed his eyes and said no more.

Wang Congwen looked utterly bewildered.

What does this mean?

Three taps?

Is it meant for him to do three things, or to take three of something?

Wang Congwen couldn't figure it out for a while; he could only suppress his doubts, planning to discuss them thoroughly with his father when he returned home.

After finishing the meal, he rose to take his leave, bringing along the few attendants who had followed him back to Wangjiacun.

Watching his retreating figure.

Zhong Kui tilted his head and asked Yu Lin: "Yu brother."

"Just now you knocked him three times—what does that mean?"

Yu Lin spread his hands: "No meaning."

"I just felt like it on a whim."

Zhong Kui nodded, about to ask something else, when suddenly someone walked over here, waving and saying:

"Little Kui, help me write a letter and deliver it to your older brother An."

Wangjiacun.

"Dad, what do you mean by this?"

"What does it mean............ tsk, hard to guess."

Wang Congshang tugged at his own beard, his expression the same thoughtful look as Wang Congwen's.

After thinking it over, he still had no definite idea, and finally said:

"Don't rush for now; when festivals come, go show your face—maybe one day it'll work out."

"Even if it doesn't work out, and you can't learn the Immortal Method, this bond of mutual understanding remains—so when your father and I return to heaven and earth, if anything happens to you, you'll at least have a fallback."

"Let's not talk about that."

"Are you still not taking the imperial exam next year?"

Upon hearing that, just as Wang Congwen was about to say yes, a middle-aged man resembling a steward walked in from outside and whispered to Wang Congshang:

"Sir, last night Magistrate Li hastily drove his carriage out of the city!"

"I heard he's going to the capital to file a lawsuit!"

"This guy's pretty quick." Wang Congshang nodded to show he understood, then waved his hand and said: "No problem."

"If it were Yu Lin being unreasonable, that would be easy to say, but now he's in the right—his son is arrogant to begin with, and besides, he's a Qi practitioner; I imagine His Majesty wouldn't offend him over such a nobody."

"Making peace is about all we can do!"

"Who doesn't know that His Majesty's successful rebellion owed much to the Dao Master of Louguan Tai?!"

"Cultivating immortality............"

He didn't continue speaking, but waved his hand: "Anything else?"

The steward shook his head: "Nothing for now."

"Then you may withdraw."

"Yes."

The steward left.

Wang Congwen then stepped forward, curious: "Dad, you keep talking about the Dao Master of Louguan Tai."

"Could it be that you know him?"

"Of course." Wang Congshang lifted his waist, raised his head, looking proud: "Back in the day."

"His Majesty raised troops at Jinyang, marching straight to Guanzhong; Princess Pingyang stationed troops at Yishou Gong, and Dao Master Qi supplied the observatory's grain and fodder—this grain and fodder, well..."

Wang Congwen took up the conversation, looking astonished: "Was it you who provided it?!"

Wang Congshang shook his head: "No."

"... Then what did you do?"

"The person who sold them the grain and fodder was my sworn elder brother, your father!"