As everyone walked out of the Sour Date Grove, the sky was gradually turning dark. Surprisingly, the journey back was uneventful. When they finally stepped out of the dense forest, the Yanming Hermit and the remaining juniors all let out a long sigh of relief. This "peaceful" treasure hunt had finally come to a satisfactory conclusion. Their lives were spared, their mission accomplished, and the treasure was in their possession. The thought of owning this treasure warmed everyone's hearts, as if a cat was tickling them from within.
Yanming Hermit looked at everyone with a smile and said, "Young heroes, let's not hurry. We can discuss further when we reach Thumb Peak." Then, he led everyone back to the base of Thumb Peak where they had set off earlier.
Everyone sat around the Reclining Ox Stone as Yanming Hermit began, "Young heroes, our mission is successfully completed. Please take the results back to your respective sects and send my greetings. Let your masters meet at the old place on February 2nd, Dragon Raising Head. We shall toast and celebrate." After saying so, he seemed unwilling to stay any longer, and without waiting for anyone to respond, he bowed his head and used his flying skill to descend the mountain.
The remaining people looked at each other and nodded. The Tan brothers left first, followed by Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing. Just as they were about to leave, Wen Wenhai suddenly stopped and said to Situ Ping, "Gang Master Situ, we passed by Lu Town the other day and got involved in a trivial matter. We saved a group of farmers but might have caused offense. I hope you can forgive us." Situ Ping quickly replied, "If our members have been disrespectful, please forgive us, Wen Young Hero. If there's anything like this in the future, I hope you'll lend us a hand in upholding the reputation of our gang." Wen Wenhai smiled, saying, "Definitely, we shall meet again." With that, he and his junior sister left at high speed.
In the blink of an eye, only two people were left by the Reclining Ox Stone. Situ Ping, feeling restless, was about to say something when Ma Xiangyang spoke. "Gang Master Situ, there's not much to say since you know about the matter and have participated in it. I would like to invite you to visit Sword Peak for a while. All decisions will be made by our Sword Master. What do you think?"
Situ Ping nodded. "As Young Hero commands." Then he returned by the same path, with Ma Xiangyang following behind.
For a moment, the area around the Reclining Ox Stone was once again deserted.
As dusk fell, Zhang Xiaohua and Butcher Liu raced back to Guo Village on horseback.
Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue were chatting in the small house in Zhang's family courtyard and helping Guo Sufei with some needlework. As Butcher Liu approached, Liu Yueyue happened to look up and saw her father's sturdy figure through the small courtyard's low wall. She couldn't hold back her tears and cried out as she ran towards her father, falling into his arms, "Daddy!" Tears streamed down her face like pearls rolling off a jade plate. Butcher Liu held his daughter, his own eyes welling up with tears. He had hoped that taking the child away for New Year celebrations would be a happy experience, but it turned out to be quite the ordeal. Following closely behind, Liu Qian couldn't control her emotions and cried as she saw her family members.
Zhang Cai came out of the house leaning on his cane and invited Butcher Liu inside. With so many people joining, the small room felt even more cramped. After a brief exchange, the villagers left the house, while Zhang Cai saw them off, expressing his gratitude.
Zhang Xiaohua also returned to the small house to check on her two brothers. Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu had suffered severe injuries, but thankfully, Xiaohu had not broken any bones. He lay on the Kang (heated brick bed), chatting casually with his elder brother. Xiaolong's injuries were similar to Xiaohu's, but his arm was broken, and Veterinarian Mr. Chen had tortured him the previous night. He had been in pain all night and seemed out of energy. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua entering, Zhang Xiaohu asked, "Has Liu Qian's family arrived?"
Zhang Xiaohua said, "Yes, they just came in."
Zhang Xiaohu asked again, "Is there anyone else?"
Xiaohua was puzzled, "Who else?"
Xiaohu said, "The matchmaker!"
Zhang Xiaohua was completely clueless.
Zhang Xiaolong laughed and said, "Don't listen to Second Brother's nonsense."
Zhang Xiaohua soon understood the situation and then joked, "It'll be soon. They won't come today, maybe tomorrow. Preparing betrothal gifts and all that will take time. Just think about it, twenty to thirty thugs, and Big Brother, you saved the day for Liu Qian. She must be touched already. If she doesn't marry you, the heavens and the earth will turn old for love, right?"This time it was Zhang Xiaohu's turn to be puzzled: "Why is it that Heaven and Earth are sentimental and old?"
Zhang Xiaohua said with pride, "If Heaven has sentiment, it will grow old as well. Isn't Big Brother's love moving Heaven and Earth?"
Zhang Xiaohu retorted, "What are you showing off like a bookworm? Besides, it's not a bride price, it's a dowry. Furthermore, Liu Qian's father is a teacher, and this future sister-in-law has read numerous books. Once influenced by Big Brother, won't you be more of a scholar?"
Zhang Xiaolong couldn't keep a straight face, and he scolded Zhang Xiaohua, "What do you know, you little brat? Don't follow Second Brother's nonsense. We brothers are just talking for fun, don't drag Liu Qian into it, how bad would it be if someone heard?"
During their conversation, someone came from the main room with a crisp, slightly hoarse voice, "Who's talking about my sister? How did I manage to hear it?"
The three brothers looked up, and it turned out to be Liu Yueyue leading Butcher Liu to see them.
They saw Butcher Liu smiling, watching them, and Liu Yueyue also had a teasing expression. Liu Qian blushed and looked down without speaking. As the host, Zhang Cai leaned on his cane and lagged behind, not listening closely to their conversation.
Seeing them come in, Zhang Xiaohua chattered and jumped off the Kang. Just as he was about to tidy up the Kang for Butcher Liu to sit down, Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue quickly cleaned up before him, helping Butcher Liu's strong body to sit down. It seemed that during the day when Zhang Xiaohua was away, the two girls had tidied up this room more than once. Zhang Xiaohua even mumbled, "Did the two sisters feed the meals for Big Brother and Second Brother today?"
Seeing a group of people suddenly breaking in, Zhang Xiaohu's face didn't change, but Zhang Xiaolong's face turned red, as if he had done something guilty. Zhang Xiaohu sat up and was about to get off the Kang, but Butcher Liu stopped him, saying kindly, "Dear nephew, don't move, you are still recovering." Zhang Xiaohu struggled for a moment but failed to break free, so he obediently lay down. Zhang Xiaohua looked at the "kindness" squeezed on his face and couldn't help but sneer in his heart. As for Zhang Xiaolong, he also wanted to get up, but it was inconvenient with only one hand. He tried, but couldn't get up. Liu Qian hesitated for a moment and went over to support his shoulder, helping him get up. The two of them looked into each other's eyes for a moment and then separated like an electric shock, their faces turning even redder.
Butcher Liu also noticed this, and his face bloomed with laughter. He said to Zhang Xiaolong, "Dear nephew, you are truly righteous, standing up against the villain in front of him to save my daughter and niece. I pay respect to you." With that, he came down from the Kang and bowed deeply to Zhang Xiaolong. Zhang Xiaolong quickly reached out, saying, "Please don't, uncle. It's my duty. By doing this, aren't you shortening my life? Xiaohua, quickly help your uncle up." At this moment, Zhang Xiaohu also took the opportunity to get up. Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly grabbed Butcher Liu, but his strength was no match for Butcher Liu's. The ceremony was completed nonetheless. This left Zhang Xiaolong at a loss for words, turning his head to Liu Qian for help, but she didn't dare to intervene, and neither did Liu Yueyue.
Zhang Cai spoke, "My dear brother-in-law, don't be so formal with them. Young people are very passionate, weren't we like this when we were young too? There's no need for so much etiquette. The boys' injuries are not serious, and they'll heal after some rest. Let's go outside and have a couple of drinks."
Butcher Liu stopped at this point, beaming with delight and saying, "Indeed, heroes are born of youth. We are old now. Alright, you young people can have a good chat. I won't bother you anymore. We, the old ones, are going to drink."
After finishing speaking, he turned around and went back to the main room. Zhang Cai followed him, leaving Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue in the brothers' small room.
Seeing Liu Qian's face blushing like a peach blossom and Liu Yueyue's eyes rolling around, Zhang Xiaohua sensed the awkward atmosphere in the room. He immediately said, "Sister Liu Qian, you are so beautiful today. You guys talk, I'm going out to play." With that, he dashed out, leaving two pairs of people alone together.
It's really strange how love between a man and a woman works. Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian met each other only once in the cloth shop, and if it hadn't been for the trouble with the villains in Lu Town, the two might not have met again in their lives. The trouble in Lu Town accentuated Zhang Xiaolong's passionate side, leaving a strong impression on Liu Qian. After only a few hours of getting to know each other and under the deliberate influence of some people, Liu Qian started to feel attached to him. She thought of having someone care for her for the rest of her life, and perhaps it was a destiny arranged by Heaven. When she looked at Zhang Xiaolong's handsome face, though tanned by the wind and sun, she felt a masculine energy that her brother didn't have, and her heart was filled with more thoughts.
Butcher Liu stayed at Zhang's house for one night, and the night passed without words.
The next morning, Zhang Cai accompanied Butcher Liu in conversation, discussing farming and mulberry planting. Guo Sufei accompanied Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue, taking care of the injured brothers in Zhang Xiaohua's room. At this time, Guo Sufei liked Liu Qian more and more, from her appearance, figure, to her ability to do housework. There was nothing to pick on; the girl knew a lot about household matters that she didn't. In the early morning, Liu Qian helped her place a few pots of plants in the main room, also placing a few pots of flowers in Xiao Long's room. The whole room brightened up and became more pleasing to the eye.
Truly, she was a great candidate to be a daughter-in-law~