Wen Yan didn’t go to et that water ghost, nor did he continue to get involved in what happened afterwards.
This kind of thing wasn’t up to him to decide. The Huai River involved too much, and too many people. In earlier tis, the Huai River Basin often flooded, ruining fields and farmlands.
It’s only in the past few decades, with constant managent and the construction of waterworks, that there has been all this new good farmland.
He just confird with Mai Conggui that the water ghost had called Niu Zhiqiang, and that Niu Zhiqiang had co in person to take the water ghost away, so he could relax.
Anything connected to great rivers has always been complicated.
Especially now, when things inside the water system are involved, it gets even more tangled, implicating more things than you can count.
This isn’t sothing one or two people can just make a snap decision about.
On other matters, Wen Yan might not know much, but when it cos to things connected to the water system, he’s heard and seen so much growing up that he understands at least sothing of the complexity and difficulty.
Once he confird that the Scorching Sun Departnt had taken over, the next day, his Seventh Great-Uncle Master called and told him not to go near the Huai River from now on. He knew this ant things had gotten serious.
It’s impossible not to take this seriously. In terms of priorities, the arrival of a World Boss isn’t nearly as urgent or complex as dealing with the Water Monarch.
After all, those so-called World Bosses dropping in from outside can probably just be killed off—most of the ti the hard part is simply how to fight.
Their influence and complexity really aren’t that high.
But with the Water Monarch, it’s totally different—he has been here since ancient tis. From the very day records began, he was already the Water God.
His influence isn’t just in the Huai River Basin. On a bigger scale, how to handle him affects how every water god and every water-dwelling creature across the land thinks. It determines the direction for a very, very long ti to co.
Wen Yan knew his own limits—he definitely can’t handle this, nor does he have the qualifications to do anything about it.
So he honestly went back to Nanwu County.
He received the items delivered by the Scorching Sun Departnt: two wooden tables, which he cleaned and placed in the basent.
Wen Yan then put Grandma’s morial photo and the naless tablet up, just like before—everything arranged exactly as it used to be, each item in its original spot according to the marks on the table.
He even kept the incense ash in the little incense burner.
He burned incense, set out offerings, and after honoring Grandma and the naless tablet, he also lit incense for Uncle and Aunt. Everything settled down at last.
When morning ca and Chen Qimo woke up, she saw Wen Yan—who was always too busy to be around—actually at ho. Still a bit bleary, she instantly perked up.
"Big Brother Su, you’re back!"
"Mm, go wash up quickly, then have breakfast."
Wen Yan went to the kitchen and cooked noodles and wontons, and then fried so flatbread and eggs.
Soon, it was ti for breakfast. On the table, in front of Sparrow Cat was a bowl of plain noodles, in front of Chen Qimo was a bowl of wonton noodles, and the Little Zombie had tomatoes. When Wen Yan went to set up the offerings, Chen Qimo followed along to offer incense and greet as well.
By the ti they got back to the table, after Wen Yan blessed everything with Yang Energy, he picked up his chopsticks and called out,
"Let’s eat!"
Sparrow Cat lowered its head to suck up noodles, the Little Zombie nibbled on tomatoes, Wen Yan ate wontons, Chen Qimo had wonton noodles, plus there was fried flatbread and eggs—everything was mixed together, and as they ate, their bellies ward up and everyone felt more energetic.
"Are you getting used to school?"
"I am, it’s pretty good. The teachers are really nice, and my classmates are friendly. The only thing is, so of what we’re learning is a bit different, so I have to work a bit harder."
"Do you need a tutor to help you catch up?"
"No, no, I can study by myself," Chen Qimo shook her head again and again.
When they were almost finished eating, Chen Qimo turned and went down to the basent. Looking at the offerings set out on the table, she looked a bit troubled.
Wen Yan appeared behind her and asked,
"What’s wrong?"
"Can we eat these?" Chen Qimo pointed at the wonton noodles on the table.
"Huh?" Wen Yan was a little surprised.
"Back when Grandma was here, she always said we can’t waste food.
The first ti Grandma ever scolded was because I wasted food—she said I ate like a chick pecking at grains, spilling it everywhere.
When we used to do these offerings, it was usually pastries or rice.
Next alti, the rice would be used for fried rice—never wasted.
Before she passed, Grandma also said that as long as you put your heart into the offering, that’s enough—it shouldn’t be wasted."
Wen Yan looked at Grandma’s photo; she had such a kind smile.
He suddenly understood.
What she said really wasn’t wrong. From what Wen Yan knew, it was the sa way when he was in Guanzhong County.
The offerings for ancestors usually just had to be set out for a while; afterwards, they’d let the kids in the family eat them.
On one hand, it avoids waste. On the other, people feel like it’s the ancestors looking after the younger generation at ho.
He smiled and said,
"Grandma was right—wasting food isn’t right.
We just got here, so let Grandma try the wonton noodles from this place.
After Grandma’s tasted them, don’t waste the food—go ahead and eat it."
"I’m already full; I can’t finish it," Chen Qimo looked at the bowl of wonton noodles, a little torn.
"Let’s eat together, then. I’ll help you out, too."
Wen Yan cheerfully encouraged Chen Qimo—he could see the girl was a little conflicted and seed to care about his opinion.
Now he understood: after Grandma passed away, she must still be watching over Chen Qimo.
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