The following morning, after breakfast, several repairmen from Tracy Town arrived.
"Fix this," Zhao Lun directed them toward the broken door, shattered windows, damaged floors, and peeling walls.
The workers unpacked their tools, replacing what needed replacement, repainting the walls, and cleaning the area. The courtyard buzzed with activity well into the afternoon. By the time they finished, most of the repairs were complete. Zhao Lun paid them, and the workers left, satisfied.
Thanks to their diligent efforts, both the courtyard and the interior gleamed with a newfound brightness.
"Brother!"
Maria, stepping on the polished floor, excitedly waved her little fists and dashed around.
"Hehe, Maria, what would you like for dinner?" Zhao Lun, equally pleased, decided to reward both himself and Maria with a sumptuous meal.
"Whatever you make is the best!" Maria beamed.
She wandered around, her face aglow with joy, followed closely by two Labrador puppies. Having drunk the divine spring water, the little pups had gained the ability to run, and quite swiftly too. They playfully chased Maria's feet, their tender paws delighting in the playful exchange.
"Alright, but don't wander too far," Zhao Lun cautioned before heading to prepare dinner.
He meticulously cleaned, descaled, and gutted the fish, then carefully scored its flesh and marinated it with a special sauce.
He worked with a steady hand, treating the fish like a piece of art, handling it with care and precision.
After nearly an hour, the enticing aroma of food began to waft from the kitchen. Maria, her stomach growling with hunger, couldn't resist picking up a fried fish to devour.
"Maria, wash your hands first," Zhao Lun reminded.
"Mm-hmm," Maria nodded, reluctantly putting the fish down and obediently heading to wash her hands.
"You two, out! No mischief in the kitchen," Zhao Lun shooed the playful puppies away, wary of the danger fish bones posed to them. The young Labradors were still on a diet of dog food.
Soon, dinner was ready and served on the table.
Though Zhao Lun's culinary skills were modest, today's meal was enhanced by the divine spring water, adding an exquisite flavor to the food.
The pair ate heartily, unable to stop until their bellies were full. Beneath the table, the two puppies devoured their dog food mixed with the spring water, licking their bowls clean and yearning for more. The allure of the spring water was irresistible, prompting the pups to crave more.
After the meal, drowsiness overcame them. Skipping their usual TV time, they secured the newly repaired doors and fell into a deep sleep.
With the house restored, both felt a surge of contentment. For several days, they stayed home, enjoying the refreshed surroundings.
Maria played with the puppies, while Zhao Lun pondered his future path.
Though he possessed a divine kingdom, it remained fragile and required discreet growth.
In a world driven by wealth, Zhao Lun knew that money was essential not only for sustenance but also for protection against unforeseen threats. To safeguard their future, he needed more resources, knowledge, and people.
His musings led him to a clearer plan.
Meanwhile, Maria continued to delight in their newly refurbished home. Her joy persisted, save for the occasional encounters with children outside the courtyard—some of whom had bullied her in the past, rekindling unpleasant memories.
"Why don't those troublemakers get taken away? They're so infuriating!" she sometimes muttered, harboring silent curses for her tormentors.
Zhao Lun decided to spend more time reading and familiarizing himself with the world.
Their lives settled into a routine of learning, exercise, cooking, and occasional walks by the seaside, where Zhao Lun tested his new fishing rod.
Half a month passed, and Zhao Lun had been in this world for over a month. His understanding of the world's dynamics deepened, confirming his initial impressions but now enriched with more detail. He deduced that the outside world harbored unrest, making their small village the safest haven for now.
Aside from the villagers who bore malice, Zhao Lun often noticed unsettling presences at night—ghosts and other inexplicable entities.
The ghosts, thankfully, appeared only after dark and vanished by dawn. However, other creatures were more persistent, often peering into their courtyard with curious intent. Fortunately, they never crossed the threshold into his home.
The two puppies, having grown rapidly over the past weeks, now stood at two feet tall. Their glossy coats and playful demeanor made them appear no less impressive than adult dogs. Yet, they remained young, with fragile bones and weak bite strength, far from their full potential as Labradors.
The playful pups were constantly chasing and nibbling at each other or trailing behind Zhao Lun and Maria. Maria, in particular, enjoyed throwing balls for them to fetch, rewarding them for their retrieval.
Impressed by their intelligence and quick learning, Maria decided to name them—Ivory for the golden female and Shadow for the black male.
One morning, the pups' barking drew Maria's attention.
"Brother, look! Ivory and Shadow caught something!" Maria exclaimed.
"Oh? What is it?" Zhao Lun emerged from the kitchen, surprised to see a peculiar creature beneath the pups' paws.
"Squeak!"
The odd creature squealed and wriggled under the puppies' grip. Despite its struggles, its disproportionate body and feeble strength were no match for the lively pups.
"Brother, look here," Maria pointed to a small hole in the courtyard, freshly dug. It was from this burrow that Ivory and Shadow had unearthed the strange critter.
With a face full of anticipation, Maria awaited Zhao Lun's praise.
"Well done!" Zhao Lun complimented, "Fill in the hole, and as for this little fellow, you can take care of it. Just don't hurt it. After breakfast, we'll figure out what it is. Now, go ahead, and I'll give you an extra treat later."
Though unfamiliar with the creature, Zhao Lun was slightly annoyed by its shrill cries. Entrusting it to Maria, he hoped she would tire it out, reducing its noise.
"Ivory, Shadow, fill in the hole," Maria instructed.
The obedient pups eagerly set to work.
"Great job! You'll get an extra treat for dinner," Maria praised, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Zhao Lun, observing the scene, couldn't help but smile.